By James Sandy
Sierra Leone Police have arrested a man after allegedly finding him in possession of an unlicensed pistol loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition during a routine checkpoint operation at Waterloo, just outside Freetown.
The suspect, identified as Tejan Jabbie of New London, Kossoh Town, was arrested on Tuesday by officers attached to the Waterloo Police Division.
Police said the operation was led by Superintendent Bankolay Mansaray, the Local Unit Commander (LUC) of the division, as part of ongoing efforts to intercept illegal firearms and strengthen public security.
According to police, Jabbie was travelling in a vehicle with registration number ARQ 600 when officers stopped and searched the vehicle at the Waterloo checkpoint.
During the search, officers allegedly recovered an unlicensed pistol loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition, which police said had been concealed inside the vehicle.
The suspect was immediately taken into custody along with the firearm and ammunition for further investigation.
Police said the recovered weapon will undergo forensic examination while investigators seek to establish its origin, ownership and whether it may have been linked to any criminal activity.
The suspect has not publicly commented on the allegations, and no plea has yet been entered before a court. Under Sierra Leonean law, he is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The arrest comes amid intensified police operations targeting the illegal possession and trafficking of firearms across Sierra Leone.
Security agencies have in recent years increased checkpoint searches and intelligence-led operations following concerns about the circulation of illegal weapons, particularly in the aftermath of the November 26, 2023 attacks on military installations, prisons and other strategic locations in Freetown.
The attacks, which the government described as an attempted coup, led to heightened security measures nationwide and renewed efforts to recover illegally held weapons.
Since then, police have periodically announced the seizure of firearms, ammunition and other prohibited weapons at checkpoints and during raids across the country.
Under Sierra Leone’s firearms laws, individuals are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition without the appropriate licence issued by the authorities.
Those convicted of unlawful possession of firearms may face imprisonment and other penalties, depending on the circumstances of the offence.
Police said investigations into the latest seizure are continuing and urged members of the public to cooperate with law enforcement by reporting information relating to illegal firearms and other threats to public safety.
