By Fatima Kpaka
December 2025 – The High Court in Freetown has sentenced two Tanzanian nationals to 30 years imprisonment each after finding them guilty of unlawful possession of cocaine.
The convicts, Hassan Mohamed Juma and Alfai Shabani Mkobela, were charged with one count each under Section 8(a) of the National Drugs Control Act of 2008 (Act No. 10 of 2008).
Case Background
According to the indictment, both men were arrested on October 22, 2024, at Lungi in the North-West Region of Sierra Leone, where they were found in possession of 34.9 kilograms of cocaine without lawful authority.
During their arraignment, both defendants pleaded not guilty.
Defense counsel C.I. Williams appealed for leniency, noting that one of the convicts was a principal caregiver. However, state prosecutor A. Jalloh pressed for a custodial sentence, arguing that the gravity of the offence demanded deterrence.
Delivering his ruling, Hon. Justice Mark Ngegba emphasized that the prosecution had met the standard of proof required in criminal cases.
“The standard of proof applied in this case is proof beyond reasonable doubt. The prosecution has provided sufficient evidence to warrant a guilty verdict against each defendant,” Justice Ngegba declared.
He noted that no evidence was presented to dispute the prosecution’s claim that the seized substance was cocaine.
Both defendants were subsequently convicted and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment each.