President Bio Announces National Strategy to Combat Kush Epidemic

President Bio Announces National Strategy to Combat Kush Epidemic

His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has unveiled a robust, multi-faceted national strategy to halt the proliferation of the drug "Kush" across Sierra Leone. Speaking at a high-level consultative meeting at State House—attended by ministers, security and justice sector leaders, and civil society representatives—President Bio declared the Kush crisis to be a paramount threat to the nation's youth, security, and long-term prosperity.

The meeting, held on Thursday, 30 October 2025, included a review of the one-year progress report from the National Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse. Acknowledging the escalating nature of the crisis, President Bio called for an acceleration and intensification of the national campaign, outlining five strategic pillars to guide the next phase of intervention:

1. Creation of a Special Fund: A dedicated financial mechanism will be established to ensure sustained resource allocation for five critical areas: Prevention, Care and Treatment, Social Support, Law Enforcement, and Community Engagement. This fund aims to secure the continuity of vital anti-drug initiatives, victim treatment, and community support programs.

2. Formation of a Specialized Court: A court dedicated solely to drug-related offenses will be formed. Selected judges and magistrates will be tasked with expediting these cases, ensuring swift and decisive justice.

1. Deployment of a Joint Security Task Force: A unified operational unit, comprising officers from the Operational Support Division (OSD) of the Sierra Leone Police and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), will be deployed to target and dismantle drug hotspots nationwide through coordinated raids and arrests of individuals involved in drug trafficking.

2. Judicial Policy Directives: The Chief Justice is mandated to issue a new Practice Direction for drug-related cases. This directive will standardize sentencing guidelines, ensuring that the courts administer penalties commensurate with the severity of these crimes.

3. Legislative Reform and Asset Forfeiture: The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice has been directed to undertake an immediate review of all existing drug legislation. This reform will aim to impose stricter penalties and incorporate provisions for asset seizure, effectively confiscating illicit gains and property derived from drug activities.

Furthermore, President Bio issued a stern warning against corruption, emphasizing that any public official—including personnel in the police, at airports, seaports, or border posts—found to be collaborating with drug traffickers will face full punitive action without exception or protection.

The President concluded by issuing a national call to action, urging parents, educators, community leaders, faith-based organizations, and the business sector to fulfill their collective responsibility in eradicating the Kush menace. He stressed the importance of protecting young citizens and supporting the journey of those in recovery.

The event also featured a compelling testimony from former RSLAF footballer Michael Tamba Komba, who shared his personal struggle with Kush, which began in 2016, and his subsequent successful rehabilitation. Mr. Komba expressed gratitude for government support and highlighted the work of his foundation, Kick Start, in aiding youth recovery efforts.

President Bio closed by extending his deepest condolences to families who have suffered loss due to drug abuse, reaffirming the government's unwavering commitment to expanding care, treatment, and social support services for all affected citizens. 

He pledged that the comprehensive national fight against Kush will continue until the drug is definitively removed from Sierra Leonean streets.