Businessman Sentenced to 25 Years for Kush Possession

The High Court of Sierra Leone has sentenced Ali Kamara, a businessman from Culvert, Freetown, to twenty-five (25) years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of 60.4 grams of Kush.

Presiding over the case, Honourable Justice Khalila Diana Kamara noted that the offence, committed in Freetown, violated Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act No. 10 of 2008. Upon arraignment, Kamara pleaded guilty to the charge.

During the trial, the Sierra Leone Police presented laboratory analysis confirming that 20 wraps of the seized substance tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids, including traces of propane 2-1 and phencyclidine.

In her sentencing remarks, Justice Kamara highlighted the serious societal threat posed by such offences, particularly to Sierra Leonean youth. “The effects are far-reaching, leaving behind a trail of a zombified youthful population too inebriated to take their rightful place in nation building,” she said, stressing the need to send a strong and clear message to deter similar crimes.

The court further ordered that the 60.4 grams of Kush be destroyed under supervision, with a certificate of destruction to be filed within seven working days. Justice Kamara also admonished the convict to become a law-abiding and responsible citizen upon completion of his custodial sentence.

The 25-year sentence underscores the High Court’s commitment to enforcing the law, protecting public safety, and addressing the growing threat of drug abuse in Sierra Leone.