By Joseph K. B. Morison, Voice of Kakua Online News
The deadly drug known as Kush has infiltrated every corner of Sierra Leone — from the crowded streets of Freetown to the quiet villages of Bo, Moyamba, and Pujehun. It is a national epidemic devouring the youth, destroying families, and destabilizing communities.
But in Bo City, a new force has emerged to confront this crisis: Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) South, Andrew Mustapha Kamara.
Barely three weeks into his assignment, AIG Kamara used his first press briefing at the Southern Regional Police Headquarters to send a clear and urgent message:
“The fight against Kush and other drugs is not just a police operation. It is a moral duty to save the soul of our nation.”
He described the Kush epidemic as a “social emergency” that requires national unity and community action. “Kush is destroying our communities, tearing families apart, and wasting young lives at an alarming rate,” he warned. “This is not a battle for the police alone — parents, teachers, religious leaders, and journalists must all rise.”
AIG Kamara emphasized that his leadership will prioritize intelligence-led and community-driven policing, blending enforcement with strong public engagement.
Since assuming office, his team has launched a series of operations across Bo and its environs, arresting several suspects and seizing dangerous drugs, including Tramadol, cannabis, cocaine, and suspected Kush. Among those arrested is DD Maxwell, a notorious dealer now transferred to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) in Freetown.
“These are small but significant victories,” AIG Kamara said. “We will continue our night patrols, joint raids, and investigations until every link in this criminal chain is broken. Our young people deserve better than a life wasted in addiction.”
His deputy, Fatmata Dabor, echoed this commitment, urging journalists to report responsibly and verify information.
“The media is not our enemy; you are our partners in this national rescue mission,” she said. “Let’s work together to inform and protect our people.”
Her remarks drew applause from journalists, who hailed the meeting as a “new dawn” in police-media relations.
Kush, a synthetic and highly addictive drug, has become a symbol of despair. Across Sierra Leone, countless young men lie unconscious by the roadside — their dreams extinguished, their lives consumed by addiction.
As AIG Kamara put it, the challenge is not just to chase the dealers but to restore hope and rebuild trust.
“This fight will not be won in offices,” he declared. “It will be won in the streets, in the ghettos, and in the hearts of our youth. We must act now or lose an entire generation.”
For many in Bo, his words have rekindled hope in a long-lost war. The question now is whether this renewed effort will go beyond rhetoric and deliver lasting change.
What remains clear, however, is that Sierra Leone’s battle against Kush has found a determined commander — and the people are watching closely.
