By Saidu Jalloh, Daily Scope Reporter
A container seized by police for transporting a significant quantity of the illegal drug kush has reportedly vanished after being handed over to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for safekeeping, raising serious public concern and prompting official inquiries.
The container, identified as TCNU 17239445G1, was intercepted on May 22, 2025, by the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) at Queen Elizabeth II Quay. Initially declared to contain “Amazonian goods,” a subsequent inspection uncovered 25 bags filled with kush and raw materials used in its production.
Following the seizure, Customs officials confirmed that the container was transferred to the SLP for further investigation. However, months later, its whereabouts remain unknown, and no official report concerning its contents or status has been made public. This lack of communication from authorities has ignited public outrage, with citizens and civil society organizations demanding transparency.
The case is particularly sensitive given Sierra Leone’s ongoing kush epidemic, described as a national public health crisis that is devastating the youth population. Key questions linger: Was the container destroyed, misplaced, or stolen? The absence of information has led to calls for an independent investigation to ascertain the fate of the evidence and hold accountable those responsible.
In the wake of the initial seizure, Detective Superintendent Abass Y. Bangura, Deputy Head of TOCU, stated that police acted on a credible tip and that investigations were ongoing to identify the container’s owners. No arrests have been reported since the seizure.
Both Customs and Police authorities have yet to clarify the container’s current status, further deepening public mistrust and frustration in the national fight against the illicit drug trade.
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