Security Agencies Destroy Narcotics Worth Over NLe 1.6 Million at TOCU Headquarters

Security institutions in Sierra Leone on Friday, 6 March 2026, carried out the destruction of a large quantity of seized narcotic substances valued at more than NLe 1,680,318 during an operation held at the headquarters of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU) in Hastings.

The exercise formed part of ongoing efforts by law enforcement agencies to clamp down on the circulation of illegal drugs while reinforcing public confidence in the handling and disposal of confiscated exhibits.

Officials from several security sector institutions, including the Sierra Leone Police, the Office of National Security, the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, witnessed the destruction process alongside members of the media.

Addressing attendees at the event, the Head of the Transnational Organised Crime Unit, CSP Rev. Michael Laggah, said the exercise reflects the country’s firm stance against the proliferation of narcotic drugs and related transnational crimes.

He noted that the public disposal of the seized substances demonstrates the commitment of the security sector to transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.

“This exercise sends a clear signal that Sierra Leone will not serve as a safe passage or destination for drug trafficking,” he stated, adding that the destruction also assures citizens that exhibits seized during law enforcement operations are properly managed and disposed of after the completion of legal procedures.

Delivering a keynote address on behalf of the Director of Crime Services, ACP Brima Kamara explained that the destruction exercise was partly organised to respond to recurring public concerns about the fate of narcotic drugs confiscated by the police.

According to him, all the substances destroyed during the event were processed through the appropriate legal channels and authorised for disposal.

He highlighted the central role of the police within the criminal justice system, noting that the institution is responsible for the prevention and detection of crime, the investigation of offences, and the prosecution of suspects in collaboration with relevant justice sector partners.

Kamara further encouraged members of the public to support security agencies by sharing credible information that could help dismantle drug trafficking networks operating within the country.

Speaking on behalf of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the agency’s Director of Operations, Ibrahim Kargbo, recalled a high-level national security engagement convened in 2025 by President Julius Maada Bio. The meeting, he said, led to the establishment of a specialised security taskforce mandated to disrupt narcotic supply chains and strengthen efforts to combat the influx of illegal drugs into Sierra Leone.

Providing technical insight into the exhibits destroyed, the Head of Forensic Analysts of the Sierra Leone Police, ASP Stevens, disclosed that the confiscated substances included several types of cocaine, kush, marshmallow, ecstasy, cannabis sativa, and other chemical compounds commonly used in the production of narcotics.

The event concluded with the symbolic burning of the seized drugs, witnessed by representatives of the various security agencies and members of the media, underscoring the country’s continued determination to curb drug trafficking and substance abuse.