KUSH CONTAINER VANISHES!
…Police Silent as Customs Points Fingers
By Ibrahim Alusine Kamara
A cloud of uncertainty continues to hang over a container reportedly loaded with kush leaves and chemical substances intercepted at Queen Elizabeth II Quay on May 13th, 2025, as authorities fail to account for its whereabouts or provide an official report months after its examination.
According to documents seen by this medium, the container — numbered TCNU 17239445G1, Customs Reference 06234 — was flagged during a routine inspection for containing suspected kush-related substances and more than 90 gallons of chemical precursors believed to be used in the production of the deadly synthetic drug that has devastated Sierra Leone’s youth.
In response to our inquiry, the Commissioner of Customs, Mr. Tennyson Bio, confirmed that the container was indeed examined by Customs officials but was promptly handed over to the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) for further investigation due to the sensitive nature of its contents.
“Our role as Customs is limited to inspection and duty verification,” Commissioner Bio explained. “Once our officers confirmed the presence of controlled or illegal substances, we duly turned the container over to the Police for criminal investigation. As far as Customs is concerned, the matter is now under police jurisdiction.”
Mr. Bio added that the handover process was properly documented and executed in line with national security procedures and the Customs Act, stressing that Customs no longer has custody or control of the said container.
However, weeks of attempts to obtain clarification from the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have yielded no response. Formal requests sent directly to the IGP’s office went unanswered.
Our inquiries sought to confirm the current location of the container, the progress of the investigation, and the ownership of the shipment—but the SLP has remained silent.
As of press time, no acknowledgment or official statement has been issued by the Police, raising growing suspicion over whether the seized container remains intact, has been tampered with, or is even traceable.
Nearly five months after the interception, no public report has been released detailing the findings of the examination, the identity of the importer, or any follow-up legal actions.
The silence from both Customs and the Police has left citizens questioning the fate of what could be one of the most significant drug-related seizures of the year.
“If Customs did their part and handed it over, then the Police owe the public a full explanation,” said a senior civil society activist familiar with the case. “Where is the report? Who owns this container? And why is there total silence from the authorities?”
The apparent disappearance of the container comes at a time when Sierra Leone is battling an unprecedented Kush epidemic, with thousands of young people addicted, hundreds dead, and communities torn apart.
The discovery of such a container—reportedly holding large quantities of kush leaves and chemical agents—should have prompted a high-level criminal probe. Instead, its trail has seemingly gone cold.
Security observers and anti-drug advocates warn that the continued lack of communication from key agencies “fuels public mistrust” and gives credence to suspicions of institutional complicity or deliberate cover-up in the fight against the narcotics trade.
As the Kush scourge continues to ravage the nation, calls are mounting for an independent investigation into the seized container and a comprehensive audit of the chain of custody between Customs and the Sierra Leone Police.
Until the Police leadership breaks its silence, the whereabouts, ownership, and status of the mysterious container — TCNU 17239445G1 — remain unknown, leaving the public to wonder whether another vital piece of evidence in Sierra Leone’s drug war has vanished into thin air.