Law enforcement officers have apprehended a suspected drug trafficker in a coordinated joint security operation at the Fallah Checkpoint along the Bo–Taiama Highway.
The suspect, identified as Santigie Bangura, popularly known as Santana, a resident of 23 Charles Street, Centre 2 in Freetown, was caught in possession of five and a half kilograms of dried leaves believed to be Kush. The illegal substance was cleverly stashed beneath the seat of a Toyota CHR bearing registration number AWB 358.
According to security sources, the suspect was en route to Kenema, where he confessed he was going to “run business” with his usual clients. During preliminary questioning, Bangura admitted to being a newcomer in the trade, having joined the illicit business just three months ago.
What’s more alarming, however, is his description of the drug’s composition. He claimed the Kush was a potent cocktail made from Mashmeleon leaves, fine C-L dust, and a green-and-yellow powdery chemical, all bearing traits of synthetic cannabis. This revelation highlights the rising threat of chemically engineered drugs in Sierra Leone.
The suspect and the vehicle are currently being held at the Regional Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) South, where investigations are ongoing and detailed statements are being collected.
Authorities say this arrest marks another step forward in the ongoing fight against the trafficking and distribution of harmful synthetic substances across the country.
