By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
A man identified as Ibrahim Kamara has been handed over to the Tankoro Police Divisional Headquarters in Koidu after he was allegedly found in possession of 104 wraps of suspected Kush during a community-led anti-drug operation.
According to reports, the suspect was apprehended by members of the Central Youths Organisation (C.Y.O.) as part of ongoing efforts to combat the growing menace of illicit drugs within Koidu and its surrounding communities. The operation forms part of a broader campaign aimed at reducing the circulation and consumption of dangerous substances, particularly among young people.
Following the arrest, Ibrahim Kamara and the suspected narcotic substances were immediately handed over to the Sierra Leone Police at the Tankoro Police Divisional Headquarters for further investigation and possible prosecution in accordance with the laws of Sierra Leone.
The Central Youths Organisation has intensified community-based initiatives to support law enforcement agencies in addressing the increasing prevalence of illicit drugs, especially Kush and Tramadol, which continue to devastate families and expose young people to addiction, crime and other social challenges.
Community leaders have repeatedly expressed concern over the widespread availability of these substances, urging residents to cooperate with authorities by providing credible information that could lead to the arrest of individuals involved in the drug trade.
Police have confirmed that investigations into the matter are ongoing, while the suspect remains in custody pending the outcome of the inquiry.
The latest arrest comes amid sustained national efforts to tackle the Kush epidemic, which has emerged as one of Sierra Leone’s most pressing public health and security challenges. Kush, a highly dangerous synthetic drug often mixed with substances such as fentanyl and tramadol, has been associated with severe health complications, addiction and numerous deaths across the country and the wider West African sub-region.
In response to the escalating crisis, President Julius Maada Bio in 2024 declared substance abuse a national public health emergency, describing Kush as a “death trap” that poses an existential threat to Sierra Leone’s future. Since then, government institutions, law enforcement agencies, civil society organisations and community groups have intensified coordinated efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, strengthen public awareness campaigns and provide support for rehabilitation and prevention programmes.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to pursuing individuals involved in the production, distribution and sale of illicit drugs while encouraging communities to remain vigilant and continue collaborating with security agencies in the fight against narcotics.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 20th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
