By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Magistrate Court in Kenema has on the 23rd of August, 2022 ordered the destruction of a large quantity of Cannabis Sativa commonly called ‘Diamba’ close to the court building at Maxwell Khobe Street in Kenema.
Addressing journalists during the open burning of the bundles of drug, the Police Media Officer East attached to the Community Relations Department (CRD) Kenema, Inspector Prince Barnard Jaygboi Kamara said, the court gave an order to burn down the exhibit of ‘diamba’ that was apprehended by Police Officers at Momadu checkpoint in Kono district whilst in the possession of Ishaka Bangura and Aiah Kamanda.
He said the illegal drug was loaded in three bags believed to be owned by the accused persons who claimed to be businessmen on their way to Kenema when they got arrested.
“The two accused pleaded guilty and have opted to pay the fines to the government rather than being jailed for a year after spending some weeks under custody’,’ said officer Kamara.
He noted that after preliminary interrogation, the matter was transferred to the regional police headquarters for further investigations. He said after the presentation of evidence, the matter was charged to court for unlawful possession.
He maintained that the accused persons pleaded guilty and were fined two million Leones each or serve one-year imprisonment. He emphasized that the court thought it wise to destroy the drug so that it won’t go back to the community to be consumed by other people.
Kamara reiterated that ‘diamba’ has a nexus to the recent Act that was passed in Parliament on tobacco and nicotine to safeguard citizens.
He went on to say that police will continue to raid all ghettos and other breeding grounds for criminals. He said the raids are to ensure sanity is maintained in the Eastern Region, noting that a lot of criminal activities do occur in communities when it’s raining.
The drug haul by the police happened on the 31st of July 2022 .The incineration exercise was executed by the Police in the full view of other community stakeholders and journalists.
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