By Saio Marrah
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has asked that citizens help provide information leading to the apprehension of drug dealers in the country by calling the toll-free lines 119 and 900.
The Director of Crime Services of SLP, Assistant Inspector General of Police Brimah Jah made this call at the weekly Police briefing at the Police Headquarters in Freetown on Thursday.
He noted that despite the government has put structures in place with strong laws to combat drug abuse; the rate at which it is on the increase, he said requires concerted efforts to save the youths of the country.
“Police cannot be everywhere at the same time, but the civilian population is everywhere,” Jah stated.
He promised that the police will also protect the safety and identity of those providing the information leading to the arrest of drug dealers.
He said drug abuse has a lot of implications including acts of lawlessness and indiscipline among the youth population in the country, thereby making young people bereft of progress in life.
He spoke about the rise in violence associated with drug abuse and the threat to the well-being of users.
The officer said youths mostly get addicted through peer group influence and called on parents to always monitor the school attendance of their children.
He said the police have been carrying out raids on those dealing in the business as well as those planting marijuana and that some people have been apprehended, investigated, and charged in court.
There has been a proliferation of drugs in the country, and lately, the widespread use of the drug ‘Kush’ with social media videos showing the appalling condition of its users has attracted nationwide concerns. Lawmakers have asked for more robust punitive measures against peddlers.
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