President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone declared Thursday that drug abuse in the nation was a “national emergency” and unveiled strategies to tackle a synthetic narcotic that is highly sought after by youth.
For a number of years, kush, a concoction of chemicals that causes effects akin to those of cannabis, has been widely used throughout the nation.
“It is my solemn duty as president… to declare a national emergency on drug abuse,” Bio said in an address to the nation.
“Our country is currently facing an existential threat due to the devastating impact of drugs and drug addiction, in particular the devastating synthetic drug kush,” he added.
A task force including government agencies and NGOs would be responsible for prevention, treatment, social services support, law enforcement and community engagement.
Bio also said his government was working to take down drug trafficking networks.
Police seized two containers in the capital of Freetown that were filled with kush, police commissioner Joseph Lahai said Thursday. Seven suspects were taken into custody, he said.
