South African National Sentenced to 30 Years for Cocaine Trafficking

South African National Sentenced to 30 Years for Cocaine Trafficking

A high court in Sierra Leone has sentenced a South African national, Asandra Denise Davies, to 30 years in prison after she was found guilty of trafficking 5.4 kilograms of cocaine at Freetown International Airport.

The court’s decision was announced by Justice Adrian S.C. Johnson after a comprehensive trial process.

The convict, Davies, was facing five counts, including unlawful possession of a prohibited substance, dealing in a controlled drug, collecting a prohibited drug, importing illicit drugs, and transporting illegal substances—all violations of the National Drugs Control Act of Sierra Leone.

The trial took place at the High Court in Freetown, where the prosecution presented evidence from key witnesses, including a lead investigator, a forensic analyst, and an exhibit clerk affiliated with the Transnational Organised Crime Unit (TOCU). Their testimonies formed the backbone of the case against Davies.

It was revealed that on November 6, 2025, at Freetown International Airport in Lungi, Davies was discovered in possession of 365 pellets of cocaine, weighing approximately 5.4 kilograms. 

Laboratory tests confirmed the substance to be cocaine hydrochloride, a banned drug under Sierra Leonean law.

In delivering his verdict on the case titled The State versus Asandra Denise Davies, Justice Johnson stated that after a careful review of all available evidence, he found the defendant guilty on all five counts and subsequently convicted her accordingly.

Regarding the first count of unlawful possession, Davies was sentenced to 10 years in prison. For the second count of dealing in a prohibited drug, she received a 30-year sentence. The same 30-year imprisonment was imposed for each of the remaining counts related to importing, collecting, and transporting the illegal substance.

Cumulatively, she was sentenced to one hundred and thirty(130) years. All sentences were ordered to run concurrently, effective from the date she was taken into custody. 

The court also ordered that the cocaine and all related exhibits be confiscated and destroyed in accordance with legal procedures.

Justice Johnson emphasized that the prosecution’s witnesses were credible and that their testimonies remained consistent throughout cross-examination. He stated that the defendant’s denial of guilt was insufficient to counter the compelling evidence presented by the prosecution.

“The prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt all the essential elements of the offences charged,” the judge said, noting that the exhibits were properly admitted and that the chain of custody was clearly established.

In her defense, Davies chose not to testify and relied solely on her police statement, in which she denied all allegations made against her.

When determining the appropriate sentence, Justice Johnson considered the gravity of the crimes, the large quantity of cocaine involved, and the serious threat that drug trafficking poses to public health and national security. He also took into account that the convicted individual is a foreign national, underscoring the importance of deterring such crimes.