DRUGS THREATEN SIERRA LEONE'S FRAGILE PEACE

The guns may have fallen silent, the killings stopped and the terrorising
of civilians ended. But the problem of drug use is still a reality in
Sierra Leone, opening a new battlefront for the authorities of this
impoverished country.

"This problem is assuming frightening proportions. If not tackled urgently
and decisively it may consume a whole generation of our youths," Edward
Nahim, Sierra Leone's only psychiatrist, said at his office in the capital,
Freetown.

"About 90% of all mental health cases in this country that I have dealt
with are related to substance abuse. It is alarming."

For most of the 1990s, Sierra Leone was embroiled in a brutal civil war in
which drugs played a central role. Children as young as 11 were forcibly
conscripted by rival factions, drugged and unleashed on the civilian
population to commit atrocities. The Revolutionary United Front, then a
rebel movement, became infamous for amputating the limbs of Sierra Leoneans.

After numerous failed peace accords, the conflict was finally declared over
in January 2002 -- and a war crimes tribunal was established to try those
who bear the principal responsibility for the atrocities.

Studies in recent months have shown that drug abuse in the country, though
not as widespread as during the years of war, is a growing phenomenon.

According to youth activist Ibrahim Kamara, addicts "include ex-combatants,
street kids, unemployed and neglected youths and vagrants. [But] of these,
more than 65% are ex-combatants who are a threat to the fragile peace and
stability that we now enjoy."

"The government has to move fast to engage the energies of the youths, many
of whom fought during the war and know nothing but drugs, lawlessness and
violence," he adds.

As is the case in other countries, drug use is also associated with crime.

"From my findings...78% of offenders in police custody tested positive for
one or more illegal drugs," says Shaun Collins, a British psychiatric
researcher who conducted a survey of prison inmates recently. "People who
abuse drugs include juveniles, the unemployed, ex-combatants and the homeless."

In addition, Sierra Leone is becoming a major shipment point for drugs that
are smuggled into Europe, North and South America, say officials.

"We recently intercepted a Nigerian with about 4,5kg of cocaine at the
Lungi International Airport and subsequently a British national of Jamaican
descent with huge quantities of heroin. In both cases, the consignments
were bound for the UK [United Kingdom]," says police spokesman Kruschev Kargbo.

"We have intensified our clampdown on the drug menace. We are destroying
marijuana farms, drug ghettoes and shacks known as 'cartels' --- as well as
confiscating hard drugs like heroin and cocaine, and charging suspects to
court," he adds.

According to Nahim, the most commonly used drugs in Sierra Leone are
locally-grown marijuana, heroin and cocaine. He agrees that joblessness and
frustration amongst the youth are encouraging drug use.

Two years ago, government established the National Drug Control Agency
under the leadership of former police chief Kandeh Bangura to tackle the
drug problem, in cooperation with the police anti-drug squad.

"The government set up the agency in response to wide calls from members of
the public about the growing...drug menace in the country," Bangura said.

"We are doing all we can to tackle this problem, since it is a clear
stimulant for youngsters to resort to violence as we saw in the 1990s."

Banguara adds that the agency is collaborating with police to establish a
laboratory for analyzing the drugs confiscated by authorities.

However, information about the exact amount of drugs that has been
confiscated at border points or the international airport remains sketchy,
with police only willing to say that they "are making significant progress"
in this regard.

This vague response has roused suspicion in some quarters --- and prompted
accusations that the police are less active in the war against drugs than
they might claim. Mustapha Bangura, a social worker and youth counselor,
claims that certain officials are in collusion with drug traffickers and
dealers.

"[Traffickers] pay so-called 'protection fees' to the police and other
security agents, thus making it easy for them to succeed in their
operations," he said.

As the government struggles to care for victims of the drug scourge,
religious leaders have attempted to step into the gap.

Pastor Morie Gobeh runs the City of Rest centre in Freetown, where addicts
receive counseling and treatment. At present, the centre has 40 residents,
who come from all sectors of society.

"The young kids include university students, ex-combatants, street kids and
ghetto youths," Gobeh says. He adds that there is a critical need for
government, parents and community members to join forces in fighting the
drug problem.

"Until this is done, we may have the unfortunate problem of having our
youngsters reverting to violence and civil disorder. They are a ticking
time-bomb waiting to be utilised by dangerous and warlike people." -- IPS