Millions Worth of Illicit Drugs and Chemicals Destroyed at TOCU Headquarters
By Kadiatu Sankoh
The Security Sector in Sierra Leone on Wednesday 12th November this year destroyed assorted chemicals use for the production of illegal substances.
The intensification Crackdown on Drug Trafficking and Kush Production known as Illegal drugs, including Tramadol, Cocaine, Kush, Cannabis Sativa, and assorted pharmaceutical substances worth millions of Leones, were destroyed at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) Headquarters in Hastings, Western Rural District.
Acting on intelligence provided by the Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority (SLPHA), security forces recently intercepted a 40-foot container carrying over 20 cartons of acetone, a chemical used in the illegal production of Kush. The seized substances were handed over to the police for safe destruction.
This marks the third drug destruction exercise in 2025, conducted under a court order for the public disposal of illicit substances seized nationwide. The exercise is in compliance with Section 47 (1), (2), (3), and (5) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008, and the National Drugs Control Regulation 202, which authorize the early destruction of seized drugs.
Present at the event were representatives from the Office of National Security (ONS), Sierra Leone Police (SLP), National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Sierra Leone Ports and Harbours Authority, the Office of the Master and Registrar, and members of the media.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Executive Director of the NDLEA, lauded the ongoing cooperation among law enforcement and regulatory institutions, describing the event as “another milestone in Sierra Leone’s determined fight against illegal drugs.” He emphasized that the exercise was conducted strictly in line with court directives, ensuring transparency and accountability.
Mr. Kaikai reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy toward drug trafficking and abuse, highlighting the Cabinet’s decision that bail should not be granted in drug-related cases. He urged citizens to report drug activities through the National Task Force’s toll-free line, 117, emphasizing the public’s role in safeguarding communities.
“The fight against drugs is everyone’s responsibility. We must work together to protect our youth and secure Sierra Leone’s future,”
— Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Executive Director, NDLEA.
In his remarks, Chief Superintendent M.J. Lagga, Head of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), noted that their operations are intelligence-led and community-driven. He credited public cooperation for many of the unit’s recent successes.
“Some operations take months of investigation, while others are swift responses to credible intelligence. Once we obtain a court order, we act decisively,”
— CSP M.J. Lagga, Head of TOCU.
Both the NDLEA and TOCU reaffirmed their joint commitment to intensify the fight against drug trafficking, abuse, and illegal chemical imports, calling on citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities that threaten national security.