Shalimar Trading Ltd has extended vital support to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) by donating two motorbikes worth thousands of Leones to enhance the institution’s operational capacity. The symbolic handing-over ceremony took place at the company’s headquarters in Lumley, Freetown, where the Chief Executive Officer of Shalimar Trading Ltd, Moussa Mroue, officially presented the items to NDLEA leadership.
Speaking during the event, Andrew Jaiah Kaikai, Director General of the NDLEA, expressed profound gratitude to the company for what he described as a timely and meaningful intervention. He emphasized that Shalimar Trading Ltd was the first private-sector entity to step forward and support the Agency since the surge of the drug crisis known locally as Kush. Kaikai highlighted that the NDLEA continues to face significant logistical challenges in its nationwide operations, and the donation of motorbikes will greatly improve mobility, monitoring, and community engagement.
According to him, the institution’s mandate goes beyond law enforcement; it includes prevention, rehabilitation, and awareness-raising. The rise of Kush, which he described as a “deadly epidemic,” has placed immense stress on both families and state institutions. “If you go to Hastings, where the rehabilitation centre is located, you will see young people whose lives have been severely damaged by Kush,” he said. He noted that the drug does not discriminate, affecting children of both wealthy and poor backgrounds alike. “So long as you take it, you will become addicted,” he cautioned.
Kaikai further thanked the management and CEO of Shalimar Trading Ltd for demonstrating corporate responsibility and urged other private companies to follow their example. He reiterated that the fight against Kush is not the responsibility of the NDLEA alone but a collective effort that requires citizens, institutions, and the broader community to work together.
In his response, Moussa Mroue, CEO of Shalimar Trading Ltd, said his company felt compelled to contribute to the national fight against drug abuse. He emphasized that the Kush epidemic poses a threat to the country’s future, social stability, and youth development. “The fight against Kush is for everyone in Sierra Leone,” he said. Mroue noted that Sierra Leone has successfully battled major crises in the past including Ebola and COVID-19 and he believes that with unity, determination, and mutual support, the nation can equally rise above the current drug challenge.
He encouraged individuals, organizations, and community leaders to support the government’s effort in any capacity possible, noting that no contribution is too small. “No matter how little one is able to do, it can make a difference,” he added.
Since October, the Government of Sierra Leone has established a strengthened multi-agency task force comprising the military, Sierra Leone Police, and NDLEA officers. This integrated approach is aimed at intensifying operations against drug traffickers, strengthening border control, supporting rehabilitation initiatives, and promoting awareness to curb the prevalence of Kush across the country.
The donation from Shalimar Trading Ltd, therefore, comes at a crucial time and stands as an example of how public-private cooperation can contribute meaningfully to national development and public safety.
