Woman Jailed 30 Years for Drug Trafficking in Freetown

A 43-year-old woman, Aminata Mansaray, has been sentenced to 30 years imprisonment by the High Court of Sierra Leone for unlawful possession and dealing in prohibited drugs.

The judgment was delivered by Justice Josephine F. Hinga after Mansaray pleaded guilty to two counts under the National Drugs Control Act, admitting her involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Court records show that Mansaray, a trader residing at Culvert, Race Course in Freetown, was arrested with 56 wraps of kush. She told the court that the substances had been given to her by a man identified as “Pupa” for safekeeping.

However, forensic examination confirmed that the seized substances were dried marshmallow leaves mixed with traces of synthetic cannabinoids, commonly associated with the dangerous drug known as kush.

Mansaray, a mother of seven who was arrested alongside her two-year-old child, pleaded for leniency, while her defence counsel appealed for a reduced sentence on grounds of remorse and cooperation.

Despite the plea, Justice Hinga emphasized the growing threat posed by kush-related offences and the need for deterrent sentencing. She subsequently imposed concurrent 30-year sentences on the accused.

The court also ordered the destruction of the confiscated substances. Additionally, custody of Mansaray’s child was directed to be transferred to the Ministry of Gender and Children’s Affairs or a trusted family member for care and protection.