Pharmacy Board seizes 23 cartons of Tapentadol and 314 cartons of illegal drugs in major Kabala raid

The Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone's Northern Regional Office working alongside the Sierra Leone Police has uncovered a major illegal pharmaceutical storage facility at 8 Faryama Street Gbindi Park Kabala Koinadugu District leading to the arrest of two suspects and the seizure of large quantities of controlled substances.

The joint operation conducted on Tuesday 25th November 2025 following intelligence reports which resulted in the discovery of approximately 23 cartons of Tapentadol 225mg capsules—a potent controlled analgesic—along with 314 cartons of counterfeit and unregistered pharmaceutical products stored at the unauthorized warehouse.

Two individuals suspected of operating the illegal storage facility were apprehended and transferred to the Transnational Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) in Freetown for further investigation.

The 314 cartons of pharmaceutical products have been conveyed to the District Medical Stores at Kabala Government Hospital for documentation and investigation. The illegal storage facility has been officially closed by the Pharmacy Board.

Seized controlled substances were handed over to the Unit Commander for transfer to TOCU headquarters as evidence. Remaining counterfeit and unregistered drugs in the Board's custody will be destroyed according to established protocols.

The Pharmacy Board urges the public to report suspicious pharmaceutical activities to the nearest Pharmacy Board office or security agency.

*For more information contact:*

Information and Communications Department

Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone

+23299117117