The Sierra Leone Police have announced major leadership changes within the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) amid controversy surrounding the alleged disappearance of an elderly drug suspect in Makeni, widely dubbed the “Kush Granny.”
Chief Superintendent Mohamed Kugba Allieu has been removed as Head of TOCU and reassigned to lead the Operational Policy and Planning Department (OPPD). Deputy Head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Mr. Laggah, has been appointed as the new head of TOCU.
Policewoman Edna Finda Sumana has been promoted to Deputy Head of CID, while DSP Bangura, formerly the Crime Officer at Lumley Police Division, takes over as TOCU’s new Deputy. All changes took effect immediately.
The reshuffle follows public concern over the whereabouts of Ya Kadiatu Barrie, who was arrested in Makeni earlier this week for alleged unlawful possession of narcotic substances, including Kush and Tramadol.
According to a police update released by the North East Regional Media Unit, Barrie was scheduled to appear before the Makeni Magistrate Court on Thursday, October 23, 2025. However, she failed to appear, sparking confusion about her transfer and detention status.
When contacted by Public Review the then-TOCU Head, Chief Superintendent Allieu, denied that the suspect had arrived in Freetown despite police sources in Makeni indicating that she had been transferred there that same morning.
“The suspect is not in Freetown as we speak,” Allieu said, adding, “Please check with me tomorrow on the matter.”
In a separate interview, Police Spokesman Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Brima Kamara confirmed that the case had indeed been handed over to TOCU for further investigation, describing it as “standard procedure” for handling drug-related offences.
“Yes, the suspect has been transferred to TOCU for further investigation,” ACP Kamara said. “The determination to charge to court will be made by the Law Officers Department once the case file is complete.”
The conflicting statements from TOCU and the Police Media Unit have deepened the mystery around the suspect’s whereabouts. The Sierra Leone Police’s social media platforms — which frequently post updates on drug-related arrests — have so far remained silent on this case.
The confusion over the “Kush Granny” comes amid renewed public scrutiny of police accountability and growing alarm over Sierra Leone’s worsening drug crisis. The Kush epidemic has devastated communities nationwide, leading to calls for a coordinated, multi-sectoral national response.
The Public Review reports it will continue to monitor the developing story, including the police leadership shake-up and ongoing investigations into drug trafficking networks.
By Ibrahim Conteh
