Detective Police Constable 13905 Mohamed Yusuf Jalloh attached to the Trans National Organized Crime Unit (TOCU) has on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 tendered 37 cartoons of Tramadol in the preliminary investigation into the alleged Importation of drug involving a Nigeria National Marcel Okechuku Zoro.
The accused Marcel Okechuku Zoro was arraigned before Magistrate Sahr Kekura of Pademba Road Court No 1 on four count charges, including Importation of class A drugs without license contrary to section 45b of the Pharmacy and Drug Act of 2001 and other related offences.
It was alleged that the accused on Thursday, December 23, 2021, at Queen Elizabeth 11 Quay in Cline Town, Freetown, imported 37 cartoons of Tramadol hydrochloride ( labelled new royal 222mg tablets) weighed 744.5kg from India to Sierra Leone without license and lawful authority.
DPC 13905 Jalloh AY said he came to know the accused through this matter. He said on December 29, 2021, he was on duty at TOCU Hastings when a team of detectives including himself left TOCU for Queen Elizabeth 11 Quay for inspection of a container suspected to have contained tramadol, adding that after the said inspection, D Sergeant 9802 Bangura J P handed over to him 37 cartoons of tramadol hydrochloride labelled new royal 225mg tablets which he said he registered in the court exhibits book against serial number 30/2021.
The witness said he kept the exhibits in one of the exhibits store at queen Elizabeth II Quay . According to him, the door was place under lock and key with sealed number 04083 in the presence of some representatives from ONS, ACC, NRA etc. He added that the said exhibit has been in his custody since then.
The exhibits were produced and tendered in court as exhibits exhibits F1-37 to form part of the evidence. During cross-examination by Lawyer Jengo, the witness said the exhibits had been in his custody and were handed over to him by Sergeant Bangura. The witness further confirmed that the exhibits were place under lock and key since December 29, 2021.
Lawyer Jessie Jengo requested the witness to bring the said exhibit book to court to ascertained whether the said exhibits were registered on December 29, 2021. The accused was refused bail and the matter was adjourned to March 28, 2022 for further hearing.
ASP Christiana Davis Cole is prosecuting the matter on behalf of the Inspector General of Police.
By Alimatu Jalloh