Sierra Leone’s Chief Justice, Komba Kamanda, has introduced a sweeping new practice direction that significantly alters how the country’s courts will handle drug-related offences.
The directive, which came into force on 1 December 2025, was circulated to the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions, all judges, magistrates, and the Master and Registrar.
The move is aimed at strengthening the judiciary’s response to the growing challenge of illegal drug production, distribution and abuse, as outlined under the National Drugs Control Act of 2008.
According to the new rules, all drug cases must now be concluded at the High Court level, though the directive does not clarify whether this bars the possibility of appeals.
One of the most stringent provisions is the restriction on bail. Accused persons charged under the Act will not be granted bail except under the limited circumstances provided for in Section 76(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 2024.
The directive also mandates courts to fast-track drug cases and authorises them to sit on Saturdays to ensure speedier proceedings.
Judges are now required to impose custodial sentences on all offenders found guilty under the Act, regardless of whether they are first-time offenders.
The directive further stipulates that anyone convicted under Sections 7(a) to 7(c) of the National Drugs Control Act must receive a minimum prison sentence of 30 years. This applies even when an accused person pleads guilty, with no mitigating circumstances permitted.
The changes mark one of the toughest judicial stances on drug offences in recent years, signalling a new era of strict enforcement within Sierra Leone’s justice system.
