By Fatima Kpaka
Freetown, February 19, 2026 – Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba of the High Court has sentenced Mohamed Jalloh to 18 years imprisonment after convicting him for unlawful possession of drugs, contrary to Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
Jalloh was arraigned on charges that on October 30, 2025, in Freetown, he was found with 170 wraps of kush weighing 100.5 grams without lawful authority. He pleaded not guilty, and the matter proceeded to trial.
ASP Joseph Stevens, forensic analyst at the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU), confirmed through chemical and microscopic tests that the seized substance was synthetic cannabinoid (kush) with traces of propane-2-ol and phencyclidine.
Detective Constable Abdul Koroma, exhibit clerk at TOCU, testified that he received the case file and the 170 wraps, releasing ten for forensic analysis and tendering the remaining 160 wraps in court.
Additional testimony reinforced the chain of custody and authenticity of the exhibits.
In his testimony, Jalloh claimed he was wrongly implicated. He stated that police officers conducting a raid chased a young man who dropped a bag near him, which officers later alleged belonged to him. “My Lord, I am not disputing the fact that the bag was found close to me, but I am not the owner of it,” Jalloh told the court.
Justice Ngegba ruled that the prosecution had provided sufficient evidence for conviction, noting that the defendant did not deny the substance was found in his possession. Based on the testimonies and forensic report, the judge sentenced Jalloh to 18 years imprisonment.
The State was represented by A. Jalloh Esq., while the convict was defended by M.K. Dauda Esq.
For further details, the Judiciary Communications Office can be contacted via +23278244739 / +23276617548 or through the official website www.judiciary.gov.sl and social media platforms.