By Sallieu S. Kanu
Freetown, Sierra Leone – February 25, 2025: A recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and the Clingendael Institute has revealed the alarming impact of the synthetic drug known as “kush” in West Africa, with Sierra Leone being the epicenter of the crisis. The report, titled “Kush in Sierra Leone: West Africa’s Growing Synthetic Drugs Challenge,” highlights the urgent need for coordinated action to address this escalating threat.
According to the report, chemical testing of kush has found that over 50 percent of samples contain nitazenes, a highly addictive and deadly synthetic opioid comparable to fentanyl. The remaining samples contain synthetic cannabinoids. These substances are reportedly imported from China, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom through maritime routes, air, and postal courier services.
The report indicates that the market for kush, initially controlled by large groups, is now increasingly fragmented, with smaller actors setting up their own operations. This decentralization has made it more challenging to monitor and control the spread of the drug.
The authors of the report, Lucia Bird Ruiz Benitez de Lugo and Dr. Kars de Bruijne, emphasize that since 2022, kush has likely caused thousands of deaths in West Africa. The drug, which emerged in Sierra Leone, has rapidly spread to neighboring countries, including Liberia, Guinea, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal, with devastating effects.
The report outlines three key areas where urgent coordinated action is needed:
- Improved monitoring, early warning, testing, and information-sharing in West Africa.
- Disrupting supply chains from China, the Netherlands, and the UK, as well as at points of entry in Sierra Leone.
- Mitigating the harms of kush consumption through prevention, public education, and increased access to treatment and support programs.
Lucia Bird, director of the GI-TOC’s Observatory of Illicit Economies in West Africa, explained that the research revealed critical information about the composition and trafficking of kush. Chemical testing carried out in cooperation with national authorities detected nitazenes and synthetic cannabinoids, substances linked to overdoses across Europe and the US.
Dr. Kars de Bruijne highlighted the international responsibility in addressing the crisis, noting that China, the Netherlands, and the UK play a part in the kush
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime is a network of professionals working on the front lines of the fight against the illicit economy and criminal actors. Through a network of global civil society observatories on the illicit economy, they monitor evolving trends and work to build the evidence basis for policy action, disseminate the expertise of our Network, and catalyze multisectoral and holistic responses across a range of crime types.
The Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’ is a leading think tank and academy on international affairs. Through their analyses, training and public platform activities they aim to inspire and equip governments, businesses and civil society to contribute to a secure, sustainable and just world.