The said offences allegedly committed by the three accused persons contravene Section (15) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008. The three alleged cocaine dealers on diverse dates between 17 July 2018 and 20 July 2018 in the Western Area in the Republic of Sierra Leone at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit Headquarter at Hastings in the Waterloo Rural District conspired together with unknown individuals to import large quantity of cocaine into Sierra Leone.
According to the Particulars of Offence, the first accused person, Nigerian-born Issac Chukuouwosu was arrested at Gendema Mano River in the Sorogbema Chiefdom, Pujehun District in the southern part of Sierra Leone by officers attached at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit in that part of the country.
The State alleged that Nigerian-born Issac Chukuowonsu was nabbed by police officers of the Transnational Organized Crime Unit at Gendema while trying to traffic seventy pellets of cocaine from the Republic of Guinea into Sierra Leone, weighing one kilogram without lawful authority.
Former Inspector of Police Donald Kandeh Zizer and Police Sergeant Ibrahim Bangura of the Sierra Leone Police are said to have dealt with a Prohibited Drug to wit: eighteen pellets of cocaine weighing two hundred and seventy kilograms by removal and disposal of the said cocaine without lawful authority.
The charge sheet stated that the two hundred and seventy kilogrammes of cocaine valued at ten million Leones was obtained and derived directly as a result of the commissioning of an offence, contrary to the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 of the country’s laws.
Before committing the three alleged cocaine dealers to stand trial in the High Court of Sierra Leone, Magistrate Santigie Bangura intimated the court that the prosecution adduced sufficient evidence against the three persons, and that the court found them wanting and culpable for the offences charged and for them to stand trial in the High Court of Sierra Leone.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Ibrahim Sheik Mansaray.
In a similar development, Magistrate Santigie Bangura also committed one Rasheed Akani Olokodana and Solomon Micheal Hindolo Katta to stand trial in the High Court of Sierra Leone for importing cocaine into Sierra Leone.
The two accused persons are charged with the offences of Conspiracy to commit an offence and Importation of a Prohibited Drug to wit: Cocaine, contrary to Section (15) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008, on dates between Wednesday 1st August and Sunday 26 August 2018 at the Freetown International Airport, Lungi in the Kaffu Bullom Chiefdom in the Port Loko District in the northern part of Sierra Leone.
Police alleged that both accused persons conspired together with other persons unknown to import a prohibited drug to wit: three point three kilograms of cocaine from Brazil into Sierra Leone. They were arrested by Police Sergeant 7810 Bangura M.K. with seven pellets of Cocaine without lawful authority.
In his committal speech, Magistrate Santigie Bangura stated that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt by adducing sufficient evidence against both accused persons.
The matter was prosecuted by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eric Deen.
