In a bid to foster effective collaboration in the fight against narcotics and substance abuse globally, officials from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) of Ghana paid a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) – Mr. William Fayia Sellu, at his George Street office, on Wednesday, June 12th, 2024.
The delegation was led by Mr. Michael Panizza – the Regional Security Officer in the Embassy of the United States of America in Freetown, and Kristen Hale – Assistant Regional Security Officer Investigator, Embassy of the United States of America. They emphasised the importance of sharing experiences and expertise with IGP Sellu regarding the fight against Kush and substance abuse in Sierra Leone.
It is worthy to note that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) enjoys a strong cordial relationship with the American Embassy in Sierra Leone.
Mr. Sellu welcomed the team and wished them a successful stay in Sierra Leone. He thoroughly and meticulously discussed the issues of Kush and substance abuse in the country, highlighting that most of the local labs used to manufacture Kush had been destroyed during Police raids. On the SLP’s approach to fighting the Kush menace, he emphasised that the focus is now shifted to disrupting the supply chain and targeting importers of precursor materials and other drugs into the country.
The IGP alluded to the fact that, over the period, some importers have been arrested and charged to court, while others are on the run.
Since President Julius Maada Bio declared Kush and substance abuse a national health emergency, a national task force was formed to coordinate a nationwide fight against the sale, transaction and consumption of drugs and substance abuse.
Mr Sellu also highlighted the role of the Sea Corporation Project (SeaCorp) at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay – with responsibility to conduct thorough searches of containers entering into the country, through the ports.. This, he noted, has been successful in disrupting the supply chain by mitigating the free passage of precursor materials used for the manufacture of Kush and other narcotic drugs into the country.
On the issue of availability of legal instruments to fight drug and substance abuse, the IGP referenced The Pharmacy Act 2001 and National Drugs Control Act, 2008. Emphasising that the latter prescribes for the confiscation of properties of convicted persons, as part of their punishment; adding that drug matters are indictable offences tried in the High Court.
Reflecting on the importance of the engagement, he stressed that it would afford the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) to share experiences, thereby improving on their forensic analysis capabilities.
As part of their iterinary, the team will visit TOCU Headquarters at Hastings and hold discussions with them on their operations.
The IGP also discussed the effective utilisation of community and stakeholders engagements across the country, as part of efforts to fight the drug menace.
Part of government’s efforts to addressing the drug menace, in line with the state of public health emergency, rehabilitation centres have been established to help reform victims of Kush addiction; stating that community members are encouraged to collaborate with the security sector in their respective communities.
The visiting team conposed of Christian Olagaiye – DEA Special Agent; Jacob Mensah Agboh – SIU Commander, Narcotic Control Commission, Ghana; and Divine Althiviln – DEA Accra Country Officer, US Embassy.
Question and answer session on key issues relating to the operations and management of drugs in the Police and by extension, the country, formed the high point of the visit.
