By Emma Black
The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) and the Sierra Leone police (SLP) have launched an intensive nationwide enforcement campaign targeting drug peddling, counterfeit medicines, and other pharmaceutical-related violations, this follows the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes a comprehensive framework for joint operations across the country.
The partnership formalized during a high-level ceremony with the Inspector General of Police at Police Headquarters in Freetown is now being fully activated in all regions to ensure coordinated field-level implementation between police officers and PBSL inspectors.
On Tuesday, 18 November 2025, senior officials convened at the regional police headquarters in Kenema to outline strategic objectives and operational guidelines that will govern the nationwide rollout.
Dr. Moses Batema, chief pharmacist and director of pharmaceutical services at the ministry of health, and chairman of the pharmacy Board, emphasized that the collaboration directly addresses the growing threat of pharmaceutical crimes in Sierra Leone.
The Pharmacy Board will provide technical expertise in drug regulation, counterfeit detection, and enforcement protocols, Dr. Batema said, we will support the police in identifying counterfeit and substandard medicines and in gathering critical data to safeguard public health.”
Acting assistant inspector general of police for the eastern region, Francis Briama Mainday, detailed the SLP’s role under the MoU, which includes investigations, surveillance operations, arrests of offenders, evidence gathering for prosecution, and enforcing relevant laws.
This partnership strengthens intelligence-sharing and boosts joint operations, AIG Mainday stated, it significantly enhances our national capacity to combat the circulation of illegal and unsafe medicines, local unit commanders from Kailahun, Koindu, Tongo, and Kenema also attended the engagement.
The MoU outlines clear protocols for combating illegal pharmacies, counterfeit drugs, and other violations. Key components include, strengthened institutional collaboration, improved law enforcement coordination, capacity building for police officers and PBSL inspectors, increased public awareness campaigns, strong confidentiality requirements during enforcement
Thomas Adey Williams, chairman of the PBSL Joint task force for the eastern region and regional chairman of the pharmacy Board, hailed the partnership as a critical tool for protecting public health, this united front demonstrates our commitment to enforcing Sierra Leone’s medicines laws and protecting consumers from dangerous substances, Williams said.
Dr. Mohamed Sesay, Deputy Registrar of the Pharmacy Board, underscored the central role of police officers in the ongoing nationwide crackdown on drug peddling and other pharmaceutical offences, in a parallel development on Wednesday, 19 November 2025, the Pharmacy Board held a consultative meeting with the Pharmaceutical Business Association (PBA) to sensitize private-sector players on the MoU and to secure their cooperation in tackling illicit drug distribution.
Demba Barrie, Chairman of the PBA, pledged the association’s full support, the Pharmaceutical Business Association says no to drug peddling,” Barrie declared, urging members to collaborate closely with the pharmacy Board in addressing what he described as a pressing public health crisis.
The nationwide popularization and enforcement campaign continues across all regions, with both PBSL and SLP committed to a unified approach aimed at eliminating illicit drugs from circulation and ensuring full compliance with pharmaceutical regulations. Officials anticipate that the strengthened partnership will deliver significant benefits for public safety and the country’s healthcare system, marking a new era of collaborative enforcement in Sierra Leone’s pharmaceutical sector.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Monday, 24th November 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
