Sierra Leone authorities took a decisive step on Saturday by destroying $200,000 worth of narcotics and chemicals, signalling a firm stance against drug abuse. The incineration took place at the Sierra Leone Police Training Academy in the capital, Freetown, with multiple law enforcement agencies in attendance and a small crowd witnessing the event.
Among the substances destroyed was kush, a synthetic drug similar in effects to cannabis, which has plagued the West African nation for years. Mohamed Alieu, head of a police transnational organized crime unit, emphasized the necessity of the action, stating, “We are destroying confiscated narcotics, tramadol, and chemicals used for the manufacturing of kush… to avoid the likelihood of (them) going back to the community.”
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency reported the incineration of cannabis and cocaine as well. Andrew Jaia KaiKai, the agency’s Executive Director, highlighted the gravity of the situation, declaring, “We are waging a war against kush to save the youths of Sierra Leone from dying of drug addiction.”
READ ALSO: Obi, Soludo, Ngige Pay Last Respects to Ezeife, Obiano Absent
Joseph Lahai, director of the police’s crime services, echoed this sentiment, asserting, “Our country is in a state of drug confusion and we must eradicate it to protect the future generation.”
This action follows the declaration made earlier this month by Sierra Leone president Julius Maada Bio, who labelled drug abuse in the country as a “national emergency.”
