In a bid to ensuring public health safety, the Pharmacy Board of Sierra Leone (PBSL) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation has on July 18, 2020, at the Bailor Wharf, Port Loko District, destroyed a consignment of illegally imported and counterfeit medicines worth over Le200 million.
It could be recalled that on March 30, 2020, the attention of the registrar of PBSL was drawn to a boat containing illegally imported drugs which had been intercepted off the shores by a Navy Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Commander Emmanuel Manga Kallie.
PBSL together with other stakeholders including the Resident Minister North-West Region, and representatives from the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), the National Revenue Authority (NRA) and Sierra Leone Navy later inspected, weighed and quantified the illegal consignment, and found out that the medicines were counterfeit and had expired. It was later suggested that it should be destroyed by burning. The medicines were said to be from Guinea.
The Deputy Registrar of PBSL, Dr. Mohamed Sesay, said the board was grateful to the Navy Commanding Officer, Lt. Commander Emmanuel Manga Kallie, for demonstrating patriotism by intercepting, arresting and handing over the consignment to the Pharmacy Board. Mr Sesay added that his action was enough to show that the joint efforts of stopping smuggled and counterfeit drugs into Sierra Leone is gaining prominence.
He further said that the destruction of the drugs in the presence of all and sundry was a deliberate action by PBSL that will serve as a deterrent to unpatriotic individuals who believe that they can endanger the health of the general public for their selfish gains, and noted that the value of the consignment may be huge in the eyes of the public, but the damage it would have cost to public health in Sierra Leone outweighs its economic value by far.
“These assorted drugs were illegally imported to Sierra Leone from neighbouring Guinea, and PBSL has never issued license to any importer of drugs from Guinea. As President Bio always says, corruption is a disease that needs to be fought with a united force, what we have done is a good example of uniting against corruption,” he said.
He further stated that PBSL applies different methods of inspecting the authenticity of drugs other than by merely concentrating on the date, and also noted that counterfeit drug producers do everything possible to produce drugs which could pass off for the real and certified ones.
Resident Minister, North-West, Haja Isata Abdulai-Kamara, said Commander Kallie had proven his worth in the military by exposing what she called a ‘devilish act’, and added that if Sierra Leoneans emulated his action the country will be a better place.
“It takes collective efforts to fight smuggling in Sierra Leone. This means, we all need to come on board and join the fight. After this destruction process, I believe that no one will ever try such act again,” she said.
The NRA Head of Anti-Smuggling Unit for the North-West, Peter Dawah, said the only two entry points that are legal for importers of drugs are Lungi Airport and Queen Elizabeth II Quay.
“If someone uses the two legal entry points for drugs importation into Sierra Leone the government benefits from the tax. It should be a win-win situation rather than you alone benefiting at the detriment of others. But the owners of this illegal consignment deliberately failed to go through the prescribed procedures because they knew that their consignment of drugs was counterfeit,” he said.
The Team Lead of PBSL in Lungi, John Akar, said although the value of the illegal consignment was a whopping amount, but that PBSL always seeks solace in the general well-being of the public than any amount.
“PBSL is charged with the constitutional responsibility to regulate medicines and how it is brought to the country, so it leaves no stone unturned in its verge to protect the public safety,” John Akar said.
By Sallieu S. Kanu
23/07/2020. ISSUE NO: 7872