By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
Residents of Calabatown, Freetown, have expressed relief and cautious optimism following a successful joint police operation on Wednesday that led to the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of a quantity of suspected Kush, a dangerous synthetic drug devastating communities across Sierra Leone.
The dawn raid, conducted at gravel ground on lower Sunday Street, was the result of weeks of surveillance and community intelligence gathering. The coordinated effort involved officers from the regional operations team and the Kissy operations team, led by Superintendent John S. Koroma. During the operation, police dismantled makeshift structures believed to be drug dens used by local dealers and addicts.
Residents described the operation as a long-awaited breakthrough. For months, the hideout had been a source of fear, crime, and sleepless nights for the neighborhood.
We couldn’t sleep well at night, the place was always noisy, and young boys were wasting away before our eyes, said a local shop owner, who requested anonymity, this operation gives us hope that something is finally being done.
Police sources confirmed that the four arrested suspects are currently assisting investigators in identifying key suppliers and distribution channels behind the Kush trade. Authorities believe this latest operation could help disrupt the wider network responsible for smuggling and selling the illicit substance.
Officials from the regional command emphasized that the raid forms part of a broader crackdown on the Kush epidemic across the Freetown-East region, aimed at dismantling drug supply routes and restoring public safety.
This is not just a law enforcement issue, said a police spokesperson, it’s a public health and community crisis, we’re determined to protect our young people and reclaim our neighborhoods.
The Kush crisis, which has spread rapidly across Sierra Leone, has become one of the most pressing social and health challenges in the country, particularly among young people. police say more intensified operations will continue in hotspot areas as part of the ongoing national effort to combat drug trafficking and abuse.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 24 October 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
