26/06/2026
SUMMARY REPORT: COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL DRUG DAY
FREETOWN –
At the Miatta Civic Center, Freetown, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency-Sierra Leone(NDLEA-SL) joined other law enforcement agencies across the world to commemorate the United Nations International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the global theme, "World Drug Problem: Persisting Issues, New Challenges, and Innovative Responses."
Various speakers from government institutions, Non-Governmental Organizations, and Civil Society Organizations reaffirmed their commitments in the fight against illicit drugs in Sierra Leone.
The Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs server as the Keynote Speaker and delivered a powerful keynote address tracking Sierra Leone's decade-long battle against devastating synthetic substances like kush, highlighting strong government interventions—including the destruction of millions of dollars in seized narcotics at TOCU headquarters, rehabilitation for drug victims, and law enforcement raids led by the Special Presidential Task Force on substance and drug abuse —while expecting a renewed collaborations with the UNODC, UNDP, and the Chinese Embassy for capacity building intervention for the agency.
The high-level gathering also featured crucial insights from the Honorable Deputy Minister of Health, who reaffirmed the state's public health commitment to rehabilitation, as well as a passionate plea from Civil Society advocates urging the government to equip the frontline officers of the NDLEA with essential operational vehicles to increase mobility and successfully dismantle trafficking networks.
Under the strategic guidance of the agency's Executive Director and Deputy Executive Director, the event beautifully combined robust inter-agency solidarity from TOCU, RSLAF, and SLP with creative public sensitization, utilizing local entertainers to deliver easy-to-learn educational messages to rows of vibrant secondary school students, teachers, and guardians who stand as the true protectors of our nation's drug-free future.
The successful commemoration concluded with a profound expression of thanks to all partners whose vital backing made the event possible, leaving all attendees deeply unified in their resolve to protect Sierra Leone from the threats of organized crime and substance addiction.
NDLEA MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION UNIT