IGP William Fayia Sellu At Abacha Street
In an engagement with Members of Parliament to identify the problems and challenges as the first national action in the fight against drug abuse (kush to be specific), the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. William Fayia Sellu informed stakeholders that the fight requires a holistic approach.
In a thrilling message, the Police Chief explains several challenges the force faces in the fight against drug abuse including incommensurate fines levied against convicts and the withholding of intelligence by members of the public among others.
“The dealers of these drugs are people who reside in our communities, they are tenants to some members of the communities, so in our approach, if they want to help the situation, they should provide intelligence,” said IGP Sellu.
The Police he said cannot be everywhere at the same time, therefore during the force reformation, under the British Born Keith Biddle, a very important component known as the Local Policing Partnership Board (LPPB) which is a social contract between the police and the communities was established.
All the 36 Divisions across the country he went on to say have the LPPB but their cooperation in giving intelligence to the police is low.
IGP Sellu disclosed that the first quantity of marshmallows (Raw material for the production of Kush) was intercepted at the freight section of the airport and it importation into the country was later shifted to the maritime domain when it was discovered that more focus was on the airport.
The security sector realised that drug importation had been shifted to the maritime domain, a unit known as the Sea Cooperative Project (Seacorp) was created.
Due to their robust measures, several arrests he said have been made, assuring that they have stepped up their intelligence gathering to look at the kush menace.
In his time as IGP, illegal drugs he said have been burnt twice including the recent 102 cartoons of tramadol and other drugs that were arrested at the Quay.
Key dealers have been targeted, citing the arrest and charging to court the Eastern notorious drugs Baron, Biggie Tel.
Other trials are ongoing across the country with more files in the Attorney General’s office awaiting advice to be charge to court.
The IGP recommended the establishment of a fast track court to speedily deal with drug cases and the imposition of stiff penalties.
Speaking to the Global Times over the weekend, IGP Sellu said they have intensified their raid on the kush dealers and some big dealers in the east of Freetown have been arrested a few days ago with large quantities of drugs. He later called on members of the Public to provide them with tangible information that will help them arrest those in this illegal drug trade that is killing our youths. He confirmed that if anyone is caught in respect of their status in society will face the full force of the law.
