By Emma Black
A delegation from the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone met with the regional commander of the North West, Mr. Joseph Ibrahim Lahai (AIG), and other police personnel on 25th November 2025 at the regional police headquarters in Port Loko to formally introduce a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on drug law enforcement, the MOU, originally signed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr. William Fayia Sellu, in August 2025, aims to strengthen collaborative efforts between the police and the Pharmacy Board to combat drug peddling.
Dr. Sesay, Registrar of the Pharmacy Board, addressed the officers present, explaining that the MOU empowers the Sierra Leone police (SLP) to arrest and prosecute individuals found in possession of drugs without a valid pharmacy license, he emphasized that the mandate extends to every police officer across the country, instructing them to enforce the law impartially and provide updates on enforcement outcomes.
Regional police commander North West, Mr. Lahai, welcomed the initiative, noting that drug peddling is a growing concern in the country, I have personally arrested several offenders I have encountered, and I assure you of the SLP’s full support in curbing this problem,” he stated, highlighting his professional background as a pharmacist.
Mr. Lahai further emphasized that the IGP’s signature on the MOU makes it a binding directive for all officers, who are expected to implement it effectively and efficiently, he committed to monitoring enforcement, coordinating with the Pharmacy Board, and ensuring offenders are prosecuted in accordance with the MOU.
Concluding the session, Dr. Sesay called on the Pharmacy Board to provide specialized training for police officers to help them identify fake, substandard, or counterfeit drugs, such capacity-building, he noted, will facilitate investigations and prosecutions, strengthening the country’s fight against illegal drug distribution.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 28th November 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
