Kingtom, Freetown — September 10, 2025: In a landmark move to strengthen pharmaceutical regulation and public health protection, the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) and the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) have signed a groundbreaking Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at combating drug peddling and medicine-related violations nationwide.
The agreement was officially signed on Wednesday at the Senior Police Officers’ Mess in Kingtom, with Inspector General of Police (IGP) William Fayia Sellu and PBSL Registrar Dr. James Komeh presiding over the ceremony. The event drew senior officials and board members from both institutions, underscoring the significance of the partnership.
IGP Sellu hailed the MoU as a pivotal step forward, noting that it had undergone thorough legal review over several months. “This is an important moment for our two institutions. The Sierra Leone Police has worked with the Pharmacy Board for years, and we are fully committed to fulfilling our obligations under this agreement,” he stated.
He assured that the agreement would be implemented across all levels of the police force, with plans to cascade it to regional commanders and circulate an internal memo to ensure full support for PBSL operations. “Whenever the Pharmacy Board needs the Sierra Leone Police, we will respond,” he pledged.
PBSL Registrar Dr. James Komeh expressed deep appreciation to the police leadership for bringing the partnership to fruition. “This is something we have advocated for with previous IGPs, but we are grateful it has become a reality under the leadership of IGP William Fayia Sellu,” he said, emphasizing the need to raise awareness among provincial police officers.
Safeguarding Public Health
Chief Pharmacist and PBSL Board Chairman Dr. Moses Batema highlighted the urgency of the collaboration. “Drug peddling and other medicine-related violations pose major challenges to our public health system. This partnership represents a significant step toward mitigating these problems,” he noted.
The MoU outlines a robust framework for joint enforcement operations, collaborative training programs, and coordinated efforts to tackle counterfeit drugs, illegal pharmaceutical sales, and regulatory non-compliance. Officials say the initial agreement will span one year, with strong prospects for renewal.
According to the agreement’s preamble, the rise in medicine-related violations—including drug peddling and counterfeit medications—poses serious threats to public health and safety. The partnership aims to address these issues through unified enforcement and capacity-building initiatives.
This marks the first formal collaboration of its kind between PBSL and SLP, signaling a unified front in Sierra Leone’s fight against pharmaceutical crime. The initiative is expected to enhance regulatory compliance and protect citizens from harmful medical practices.