A laboratory set up for the manufacture of illegal substances among which is the notorious ‘Kush’ has been uncovered in Freetown.

Located in Allentown – a suburb of Freetown, the facility found with improvised local equipment for producing ‘kush’ is said to belong to on Jah who was among four suspects picked up by police during the raid on the laboratory. Informed sources also told FS that some amounts of money in both foreign and local currencies had also been seized by the police.

The raid followed a tip off by the head teacher of a neighbouring school in the area as fumes from the laboratory filtered into the school compound and polluted the atmosphere. This development heightened fears on the safety of the students some of which reports say had already fainted because of the noxious fume.

The fumes, according to sources, caused several students to lose consciousness, consequent upon which affected students were evacuated for medical attention.

This has raised fresh concern on the rising threat of drugs, especially the growing problem of ‘kush’, in Sierra Leone.

This incident has reignited fears on the widespread effects of ‘kush’ in Sierra Leone, a drug found to be responsible for various fatalities in the country. Law enforcement agencies have indicated efforts to dismantle drug production and its distribution networks in the country. Government has equally stressed the importance of community awareness and the need to report suspicious activities promptly.

As the students affected by the toxic exposure receive medical treatment, this situation underscores the urgent need for more stringent regulations and enforcement to combat the rise of illegal drugs in residential neighbourhoods.