By Emma Black
Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) have reaffirmed their commitment to a stronger cross-border collaboration aimed at combating drug trafficking, youth substance abuse, and transnational organised crime affecting both countries.
Speaking during the weekly press conference held on Tuesday, 3rd December 2025, at the Police Mess, Kingtom, Freetown, senior police officials highlighted that the rise in drug use particularly Kush and the activities of criminal networks along porous borders demand urgent, coordinated action.
An SLP spokesperson noted that both countries are witnessing alarming rates of youth addiction and drug-related deaths, prompting police leaders to develop a unified front. “We cannot fight this menace alone. Smugglers exploit our borders daily. That is why the Sierra Leone Police and Liberia Police have agreed to work together to dismantle the networks destroying our young people,” he said.
On Monday, 1st December 2025, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Hon. Gregory O. W. Coleman, officially received the SLP delegation at the LNP Headquarters in Monrovia as part of ongoing bilateral engagements.
IGP Coleman emphasised that terrorism, drug trafficking, and organised crime are increasingly targeting weak points across West Africa, making regional collaboration indispensable. He praised ongoing cooperation with Sierra Leone and recalled earlier engagements in Freetown, where both Inspectors General briefed President Julius Maada Bio on plans to establish a Mano River Union police chiefs committee.
He added that Liberia is developing a four-year strategic policing plan and stands to benefit from Sierra Leone’s transformation from a “force” to a “service”. Symbolically, he said Liberia had given the SLP “the key to Monrovia,” reflecting deep trust and partnership.
Responding on behalf of the delegation, AIG Dr. John Martin Senesie underscored SLP’s dedication to fully implementing the security communiqué signed by both Police Chiefs. He said the cooperation between the two sister countries is built on history, shared borders, and mutual responsibility to maintain peace.
AIG Brima Kanneh and AIG Andrew Mustapha Kamara echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of shared learning, operational collaboration, and intelligence-sharing.
On Tuesday, 2nd December 2025, senior officials of both police institutions held a high-level technical working session at the LNP headquarters in Monrovia, the meeting focused on, cross-border crime prevention and intelligence sharing Joint training and capacity-building, community policing best practices cybersecurity, human trafficking, and the fight against transnational organised crime
Both sides agreed on a draft roadmap for establishing the Mano River Union police chiefs committee, a specialised body expected to strengthen joint patrols, border security, and operational coordination within the MRU basin.
The meeting ended with renewed assurances from both institutions that all misunderstandings between the countries will be handled through legal and diplomatic channels, in line with local and international law.
Senior management officers from both sides toured several LNP facilities, including the operational Control room, emergency response unit, traffic division, and Broadcasting unit, Tthe SLP and LNP pledged to maintain strong cooperation in safeguarding peace, security, and stability within the Mano River Union and the wider ECOWAS region.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Friday, 5th December 2025 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
