By Haddy Touray
National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has disclosed that six hundred and twenty-three cases of drugs related offences have been recorded in the country last year involving ninety four (94) foreign nationals.
The Drugs Law Enforcement Agency made this disclosure in its annual report of 2023, privy to The Voice Newspaper. It stated that cannabis continued to be the main type of drugs seized from offenders with 1 ton, 954 kilograms, 34 grams and 492 milligrams of cannabis sativa expounded during the year.
“The total number of cases and arrestees for 2023 was six hundred and twenty-three (623) cases involving six hundred and thirty-three (633) accused persons. Five hundred and thirty-nine (539) are Gambian nationals while the remaining ninety-four (94) are non–Gambian nationals,” NDLEA disclosed.
It added: “In comparison to 2022, the seizure statistics shows a decrease in the total number of cases and arrestees from 632 in 2022 to 623 in 2023 and 650 in 2022 to 633 in 2023 respectively. However, the total number of non-Gambian nationals arrested increased from 87 in 2022 to 94 in 2023 while Gambian arrestees decreased from 563 in 2022 to 539 in 2022.”
The Drugs Law Enforcement Agency further revealed that Sierra Leoneans occupied the highest number of foreign nationals involved in drug cases in the country followed by Senegalese, noting that 34 Sierra Leoneans and 33 Senegalese were arrested in 2023, accounting for the bulk of the foreign nationals.
“From the total number of 94 foreign nationals arrested in 2023, 33 are Senegalese, 7 Bissau Guineans, 4 Conakry Guinean, 9 Nigerians, 34 Sierra Leoneans, 3 British nationals, 1 American, 1 Turkish, 1 Spanish and 1 DR Congo national,” NDLEA revealed the breakdown of foreign nationals arrested with drugs in the country in 2023.
“Sierra Leoneans followed by Senegalese nationals account for the bulk of the foreign nationals arrested. However, while the total number of Sierra Leonean nationals increased from 10 in 2022 to 34 in 2023 the total number of Senegalese decreased from 51 in 2022 to 33 in 2023,” the report added.
The agency continued to disclose that the cumulative total quantities of drugs seized equates to the following breakdown: 1 ton, 954 kilograms, 34 grams and 492 milligrams of cannabis sativa, 133 kilograms, 600 grams of cannabis plantations, 9 kilograms, 598 grams and 883 milligrams of hashish 1 kilogram, 841 grams and 554 milligrams of skunk, 7 kilograms, 352 grams 121 milligrams of Kush, 184 kilograms, 46 grams and 398 milligrams of cocaine 78 grams and 266 milligrams of crystal meth, 74 grams of heroin, 3 tablets of clonazepam. It further added that some 3854 tablets of methamphetamine, 11,385 tablets of ecstasy, 83 tablets of tramadol 37 tablets of diazepam and 5 grams 120 milligrams of MDMA
The agency also reported that one hundred and fifty-two (152) cases were successfully dealt with in various courts across the country for the reporting period, noting that out of these, the agency secured one hundred and thirty-two (132) convictions and there were twenty-one (21) acquittals.
