Police Seek Building Owner Following Massive Illegal Tramadol Seizure
Authorities are struggling to identify the owner of a Freetown property where a massive shipment of illegal tramadol was seized last week, an incident that also resulted in one death and sparked violent protests.
Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Braima Kanneh, the Regional Commander of Freetown East, disclosed the gap in the investigation during a press briefing at the Police Officer’s Mess in Kingtom on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. AIG Kanneh confirmed that no arrests have been made so far.
According to police accounts, the incident began on September 3, 2026, at approximately 10:30 a.m. The Operations Team from the Eastern Police Station acted on a tip-off regarding a crowd of angry youth gathered on Mamy Yoko Street, where a large quantity of tramadol had reportedly been offloaded at a local residence.
Upon arrival, officers encountered thousands of young people protesting and pelting the building with stones. Security forces managed to cordon off the area and requested reinforcements to bring the situation under control. Amidst the chaos, an unidentified individual was found dead at the scene.
While eyewitnesses allege that the victim was shot and killed by police officers, the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have yet to officially confirm the cause of death. AIG Kanneh stated that a formal investigation is underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatality.
The Trans-National Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) arrived swiftly at the scene, securing and transporting the substantial consignment of tramadol to its offices for further analysis.
AIG Kanneh expressed serious concern over the lack of information regarding the building's ownership, noting that the deficiency hinders efforts to disrupt the illicit drug trade's supply chain and hold those responsible accountable.
The incident highlights the critical need for stronger intelligence networks and community policing to mitigate youth unrest and combat drug trafficking in the capital.
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