The Sierra Leone Police have arrested four suspects following a targeted operation against makeshift drug dens in Calaba Town, east of Freetown, as part of an intensified crackdown on the country’s growing kush epidemic.
According to police sources, the raid was conducted late Friday evening by officers attached to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) and the Operational Support Division (OSD) after weeks of surveillance in the area.
The operation uncovered several improvised drug hideouts where kush and other narcotic substances were allegedly being sold and consumed. Items recovered at the scene included sachets of suspected kush, cannabis, mobile phones, and drug paraphernalia.
Four individuals — all male and aged between 19 and 32 — were taken into custody and are currently assisting police with investigations. Authorities say the suspects will be charged under the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 once investigations are concluded.
Police Spokesman Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Brima Kamara confirmed the arrests and described the operation as part of a sustained national campaign to dismantle drug networks that are fueling violence and addiction among young people.
“These raids are ongoing, and we will not relent until every corner where this deadly substance is sold is shut down,” ACP Kamara stated.
The Calaba Town operation follows a series of recent police actions targeting kush suppliers and traffickers across Freetown and other regions. In September, large quantities of the drug were seized during raids in Wellington and Lumley, leading to multiple arrests.
The Government of Sierra Leone has declared kush a national public health crisis, with medical professionals warning of its devastating effects on the brain, heart, and mental health of users, particularly youth.
Authorities are urging community members to report suspicious activities and cooperate with law enforcement to help curb the spread of the drug.
By Adama Bangura
