Port Loko High Court Sentences Man to 60 Years for Drug Offences

The Port Loko Resident High Court, presided over by Honourable Justice Sahr Elogima Kekura, has sentenced Mohamed Yillah to 60 years’ imprisonment for unlawful possession and sale of prohibited drugs, citing the serious public health risks posed by drug abuse among youth.

Yillah was arraigned alongside two other defendants on multiple charges, including unlawful possession, sale, and unlawful keeping of prohibited substances, in violation of Sections 8(a) and 7(c) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008, as well as Regulation 15 of the Drugs and Substance Abuse, Public Emergency Regulations, 2024.

Court records indicate that on November 8, 2025, at Bamoi Luma in Magbema Chiefdom, Kambia District, Yillah was found in possession of 17.5 grams of Cannabis Sativa and was unlawfully keeping a black rubber bucket containing dried cannabis leaves.

The second defendant, Foday Ali Kamara, was found with 294.5 grams of Cannabis Sativa at the same location on the same day and later sentenced to five years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to unlawful possession.

The third defendant, Ibrahim Kamara, was apprehended selling 36.5 grams of cannabis. Proceedings for the remaining charges against all defendants have been adjourned to February 4, 2026.

In delivering judgment, Justice Kekura emphasized the detrimental effects of drug abuse on society, particularly its impact on youth, public health, and social stability. The court took into account Yillah’s guilty plea, as well as his mitigation statement and allocutus.

Yillah was sentenced to five years each for counts one, two, and three, and fifteen years each for counts seven, eight, and nine. The sentences are to be served concurrently, totaling 60 years’ imprisonment.

The case underscores the judiciary’s commitment to enforcing drug laws and addressing the growing concerns over substance abuse in Sierra Leone.