Nigerian Citizen Gets 30-Year Jail Term for Illegal Possession of Cocaine
The Court of Appeal Judge, Honourable Justice Aiah Simeon Allieu (JA), has sentenced a 35-year-old Nigerian national, Newton Johnson, to 30 years in prison for unlawful collection and possession of 2.9 kilograms of cocaine.
Johnson, an engineer by profession, was charged with two counts: Collecting a Prohibited Drug Without Lawful Authority and Unlawful Possession of Drugs, contrary to Sections 7(b) and 8 of the National Drug Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
During his arraignment, Johnson pleaded guilty to both charges and admitted to being in possession of the cocaine. Despite being given several opportunities to reconsider his plea, he maintained his confession throughout the proceedings.
According to State Counsel O.V. Robin Mason, the incident occurred on 9th November 2024 in Freetown, when Johnson was found with 2.9 kilograms of cocaine. He was arrested, interrogated, and charged after the police concluded their investigations.
In his plea for leniency, Defence Counsel Alimamy Bangura told the Court that Johnson had cooperated fully with both the police and the Court, adding that he was a young father of two who showed remorse for his actions. He urged the Court to temper justice with mercy.
In delivering his judgment, Justice Allieu stressed the judiciary’s duty to uphold the law amid a rising wave of drug trafficking and substance abuse in Sierra Leone and the subregion. He noted that such crimes pose a serious threat to public health and the nation’s youth.
“The inflow and distribution chains must be completely identified and terminated, and the Court has a role to play in achieving this national fight,” Justice Allieu said. “We are committed to eradicating this menace that seeks to destroy the lives of our youthful population.”
Justice Allieu sentenced Johnson to 30 years’ imprisonment on the first count and 10 years on the second count, with both sentences to run concurrently.
In recent years, Sierra Leone has been confronted by a mounting drug-abuse crisis, with the synthetic substance known locally as “kush” emerging as a particular threat. A national survey found that 62% of respondents across the country reported using illicit substances. The drug is cheap, widely available and linked to significant health burdens, its use has triggered rising numbers of emergency medical visits, mental health disorders and social dysfunction among young people. Meanwhile, the country has also become a transit route for international drug trafficking authorities have flagged seizures of large quantities of cocaine at border crossings and diplomatic channels.
To respond to this threat, the judiciary and wider justice system in Sierra Leone have stepped up efforts significantly. The Judiciary of Sierra Leone recently assigned seven judges and four magistrates in the Western Area, and all regional magistrates in the provinces, to focus exclusively on drug related offences; court sittings have even been extended into Saturdays to fast-track these cases. The appointment is part of a broader reform agenda that includes specialized drug courts, new sentencing guidelines, and closer coordination with law enforcement agencies to dismantle trafficking networks.
