In a significant ruling delivered yesterday, Justice Alhaji Momoh Jah Stevens of the High Court No. 1 in Freetown ordered the destruction of a large cache of assorted illegal drugs.
The case originated from an application for disposal submitted by State Prosecutor Yusif Isaac Sesay, Esq., which emphasized the urgent need to address the drug crisis affecting young people in the community.
The application, filed as an Ex-parte motion on February 26, 2025, requested court authorization for the public destruction of the drugs in question. An affidavit from Alpha Jalloh, a State Counsel at the Law Officers Department, which was also sworn on February 26, 2025, supported this motion.
The affidavit included eight exhibits substantiating the necessity for destruction.
Among the exhibits presented were:
Exhibit AJ1: A letter from the Head of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) requesting a court order for the public destruction of the drugs.
Exhibit AJ2: A list of the matters under investigation concerning the drugs.
Exhibit AJ3: A letter from the Executive Director of the National Drug Control Agency requesting the destruction of the illegal drugs.
Exhibit AJ4: A case and inquiry file with CR number 482/2024.
Exhibit AJ5: Laboratory analysis reports of liquid substances suspected to include pharmaceutical drugs, Kush, cocaine, and other dangerous drugs.
Exhibit AJ6: A case and inquiry file with CR number 507/2024 containing parcels of cocaine.
Exhibit AJ7: A laboratory analysis report suspected to be cocaine.
Exhibit AJ8: A laboratory analysis report of a white substance suspected to be cocaine, Tramadol, and Kush.
In his ruling, Justice Stevens stressed the critical need to safeguard the future of the nation’s youth, stating, "These drugs are destroying the future of our youth." He subsequently granted the following orders:
An order for the public disposal of drugs—including Tramadol, cocaine, Kush, and other pharmaceutical drugs currently in the custody of TOCU, pursuant to Section 47(2) and (3) of the National Control Drugs Act 2008, Act No. 10 of 2008, even though related matters are pending before the Magistrate Court.
An order for the destruction of a substantial portion of all exhibits in case and inquiry files CR NO. 447/2024, CR NO. 482/2024, CR NO. 502/2024, CR NO. 507/2024, CR NO. 378/2024, and CR NO. 03/2024.
An order for the preservation of 2 grams of each exhibit for the due administration of justice.
A directive that the preserved 2 grams of substances must be destroyed at the conclusion of the trial.
The ruling underscores the court's commitment to combatting drug-related issues and enhancing public safety in Sierra Leone.
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