By Alimatu Jalloh
Sierra Leone — High Court Judge, Honourable Justice Mark Ngegba, has sentenced David Johnson, a motor driver from Deep Eye Water along the Waterloo Highway, to 30 years imprisonment for transporting prohibited drugs without lawful authority.
Johnson was arraigned before the High Court on two counts of Transportation of Prohibited Drugs without Lawful Authority, contrary to Section 7(b) of the National Drugs Control Act, 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008); and Unlawful Possession of Drugs, contrary to Section 8(a) of the same Act
According to court records, on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, Johnson was intercepted at the Mile 18 Police Checkpoint in the Kambia Police Division, northernpProvince. He was found transporting 89 compressed parcels of cannabis sativa in a red and yellow Nissan vehicle (registration number AUX 384).
Johnson admitted to the offence, claiming he was unaware the parcels contained illegal drugs. He told the court that he had been asked by one Jelika Conteh to transport the package and pleaded for mercy.
Defence Counsel M.K. Dauda urged the court to temper justice with mercy, arguing that Johnson had no prior knowledge of the contents and was simply carrying out his duties as a driver.
In delivering his ruling, Justice Ngegba acknowledged the guilty plea and mitigation statement but stressed the seriousness of drug trafficking and its devastating impact on society. He emphasized that drug-related crimes undermine public safety and national development, and must therefore be met with strong deterrent punishment.
- On count one, Johnson was sentenced to 25 years’ imprisonment.
- On count two, he received 5 years’ imprisonment.
- Both sentences will run concurrently, amounting to 30 years in total.
The Judiciary Communications Department reiterated that the ruling reflects the courts’ commitment to combating drug trafficking in Sierra Leone.