NDLEA Director Exposes Agency’s Insufficient Resources for Essential Operations

During a meeting with members of parliament regarding the surge in drug abuse within the country, Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, the Executive Director of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said that his agency lacks adequate resources to effectively combat the escalation of drug use.

Kaikai revealed that the NDLEA has just 12 permanent staff across the nation, highlighting their dire lack of resources. He emphasized the agency’s inability to even provide bicycles for their operations and admitted to personally covering the cost of electricity. 

“Even electricity Thursday before I left the office out of my pocket I paid 1 million just for us to have light in that office,” said Kaikai.

The meeting convened with the participation of the Inspector General of Police, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Social Welfare, after public outcry over the tragic deaths of 32 youths who were laid to rest last week, all of whom were victims of drug abuse (Kush).

Furthermore, Kaikai emphasized his need for essential support to effectively carry out his duties, expressing his willingness and capability to fulfil his responsibilities.

On the other hand, Honourable Matthew Nyuma, the leader of government business, proposed that the emphasis should be placed on identifying the sources of Kush production and targeting the retailers through collaborative endeavours. 

Leaders from both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the primary opposition All People’s Congress have pledged to collaborate in tackling the issue. They have urged the government to declare Kush abuse as a public health emergency.