By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)

The Executive Director of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chief Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, has said the agency does not have even a motor bike or  bicycle to do its work; the agency only has twelve permanent staff and one office at 2 Walpole street in Freetown.

The other problem it is faced with is that the agency cannot afford to pay for bills due to some financial pressures.

NDLEA is requesting for Nle 7,426.9 million Leones form the Ministry of Finance and donor partners in the upcoming Fy2025 budget allocation.

On Thursday, August 28th 2024 Kaikai told financial experts and journalists at the Ministry of Finace HQs conference room 3rd floor that the Agency is facing huge financial constraints and middle manpower in order to discharge and implement its mandates especially issues that have to do the fight against the ongoing pandemic Kush crisis and other related issues of  illegal drugs flow in the country.

He said the agency is fraught with enormous challenges, adding that lack of treatment and rehabilitation centers for drugs affected persons are a major problems.

“NDLEA is not established at class A board crossing points i.e. Pujehun district, Gbalamuya (Kambia district) and within the 16 districts of Sierra Leone and the no drug testing.”

“The lack of equipment such as vehicles, motor bikes, drug detection gadgets, computers, etc. is also affecting our work,” he affirmed.

Mr Kaikai who was speaking at a meeting with Members of Finance on plans to address the drug abuse especially the  Kush substance abuse, in the country, adding that they need the requisite support to be able to do their work.

He underscored activities and accomplished projects in the Fy2023 budget, noting that the agency is working in the inter-ministerial and multi-sectorial approaches in the fight against drug and substance abuse in Sierra Leone.

However, he said they have been giving free psychosocial counseling to persons who consumed drugs, and the opening of the first government rehabilitation centers at Hastings in the fight against drug and substance abuse in the country.

Besides, he talked of the referral of drug victims to Sierra Leone Psychiatric Teaching Hospital (SLPTH) for drug test, detoxification, treatment and rehabilitation facilities.

In her statement, Dr. Ilara Mandi, Deputy Director of Budget, said NDLEA situation is pathetic and worrisome based on the contemporary trends regarding financial constraints and Kush intake among youths within various communities.

“Amid the financial challenges, we do appreciate your timely collaboration with other line ministers, civil societies and community originations in the fight against illegal drugs in the society.

“Today’s presentation is a clear testimony of disaster for our generation in the country. This is a collective fight for all, ” she said.

The budget was approved in the  presence of the participants.

He said government and critical stakeholders must stand tall in a bid to eradicate the flow of unlawful drugs in the region.

Bai Bai Kanu, a victim of Kush intake and resident of Calabatown also told this medium that Kush is a poison and the danger surrounding illicit drugs are too risky.

“My life is presently in a critical status; my family is running away from me. I only make ends meet once in a day though I was induced to Kush intake by a close acquaintance at college.”

“Nevertheless government and NDLEA are making huge strives at least to keep us alive,” he said.

In her submission, Francess Marrah, a civil society activist, who is based in Makeni said NDLEA should work with the medical students on providing psychosocial and counseling discipline.

She added that government and donors partners must support the agency regardless of the financial problems to curb the man made crisis.

Sierra Leone is in the bad books of the kush trafficking within the Mano Raver Union (MRU) in West Africa.