Freetown, 10 September 2025 — The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) and the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the fight against drug peddling and counterfeit medicines, a persistent public health concern in the country.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), William Fayia Sellu, and the Chief Pharmacist and Chairman of PBSL, Dr Moses Batema, during a brief ceremony in Freetown.
Dr Batema described the signing as a major milestone in efforts to regulate the sale and distribution of pharmaceuticals.
“One of the key challenges we have faced in our regulatory activities is drug peddling and other violations related to medicines,” he said. “Despite years of attempts, the problem has persisted. This formal collaboration with the SLP is a crucial step towards addressing the issue.”
Inspector General Sellu emphasised the importance of the partnership, noting that the police, in addition to their core law enforcement duties, also support other Ministries, Departments and Agencies in fulfilling their mandates.
Recalling his time as a Local Unit Commander, he highlighted past joint operations with the Pharmacy Board to clamp down on illegal drug sales. He added that the issue of drug peddling and counterfeit pharmaceuticals had been raised at the National Security Council level, underscoring its national significance.
“The SLP has long been working with the Pharmacy Board in tackling drug peddling,” IGP Sellu said. “We have made arrests and destroyed counterfeit and expired drugs. Today’s ceremony formalises that long-standing cooperation.”
He assured that directives would be issued to all regional police commanders to ensure the full implementation of the agreement.
The MoU represents a united front between law enforcement and regulatory authorities in the fight against illicit drug distribution, reinforcing the government’s commitment to protecting public health in Sierra Leone.
SLP Media Team
