Kenema, Sierra Leone — A police officer and his girlfriend have been remanded in custody after being charged with multiple counts of drug possession and trafficking, a case that has sparked widespread concern over integrity within the country’s law enforcement sector.
Sergeant Augustine Tamba Saffa, 35, and his partner, Isha Conteh, a petty trader, appeared before Magistrate Mustapha Braima Jah on four counts relating to cannabis sativa. The charges, prosecutors argue, amount to a serious breach of public trust.
According to court filings, Sergeant Saffa was arrested on September 1, 2025, at Yakama Street, New Site, Kenema, in possession of 799 wraps of cannabis sativa — a quantity prosecutors say goes beyond personal use and points to active trafficking.
He faces two counts of possession and dealing in prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
Ms. Conteh was similarly charged after allegedly being found with three parcels of cannabis sativa at the same location and time. She also faces accusations of engaging in the illicit trade.
During the preliminary hearing, neither of the accused entered a plea. Magistrate Jah refused bail, citing the severity of the allegations and the risks posed to public safety. Both have been remanded to correctional facilities in Freetown pending further hearings, which continue on October 8, 2025.
The case has reignited debate over drug trafficking in Sierra Leone, particularly the involvement of law enforcement officers, raising urgent questions about accountability and the measures needed to restore public confidence in the justice system.
