Businessman Sentenced to 20 Years for Drug Possession

Justice S. I. Sorie Bangura of the Kono High Court has sentenced a local businessman, Yayah Bah, to 20 years imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of drugs, specifically kush.

The defendant was arraigned on a single count of unlawful possession of drugs contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act 2008. Court records show that on 4th November 2025 in the Kono Judicial District of the Eastern Province, the accused was found in possession of a plastic bag containing kush.

During the proceedings, state prosecutor Charles Foday Sesay Esq. urged the court to accept the guilty plea and proceed with sentencing. He emphasized that drug-related offences pose a serious threat to society, particularly young people, and called for a firm judicial response to deter similar conduct.

In mitigation, defence counsel Alpha Osman Kamara Esq. described the accused as a first-time offender and a young man with potential for reform. He appealed for leniency, arguing that a minimum sentence would allow for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

In his ruling, Justice Sorie Bangura acknowledged the mitigation presented by the defence, noting that the defendant had pleaded guilty, not wasted the court’s time, and shown remorse. However, he condemned the offence, stating that drug possession is destructive and harmful to the social fabric of Sierra Leone.

The judge stressed that drug offences continue to undermine national efforts to protect young people from substance abuse and that the courts must send a strong message through firm sentencing.

Justice Bangura therefore sentenced Yayah Bah to 20 years imprisonment. The court also ordered the destruction of the confiscated substances to prevent any further misuse.

The ruling reinforces the judiciary’s strict stance on drug-related offences and highlights ongoing efforts to combat the possession and circulation of illicit drugs in Sierra Leone.