The Sierra Leone Police have revealed that 660 Sierra Leoneans returned home from countries including Mauritania, Algeria, Libya and Niger in 2025, as the force stepped up its fight against drug trafficking, human trafficking and organized crime nationwide.

The update was shared during a weekly police press briefing in Freetown, where officials highlighted key achievements recorded by the Transnational Organized Crime Unit throughout the year.

According to police data, the returnees were mostly from the Sahel region and included 259 adult women, 183 adult men and 244 children, made up of 99 boys and 145 girls. Authorities explained that tracking these movements forms part of ongoing efforts to monitor migrant smuggling and human trafficking activities.

In addition to managing migrant-related cases, police intensified operations against drug trafficking. Five major drug cases were investigated in 2025, leading to several arrests and significant seizures. Suspects were apprehended with large quantities of substances believed to be ecstasy, tramadol and other illicit drugs, some of which were concealed during transportation.

Officers also impounded dozens of cartons of suspected tramadol in separate operations and arrested individuals in different parts of the country for drug-related offences. The seized substances are currently undergoing forensic testing to confirm their composition.

Police further reported progress in prosecutions, noting that hundreds of cases were taken to court during the year. Several convictions were secured, resulting in lengthy prison sentences for those found guilty of serious organized crime offences.

On human trafficking and migrant smuggling, multiple cases were charged to court, convictions were recorded and raids were carried out as part of ongoing enforcement efforts. Additional cases remain under review by prosecuting authorities.

The police also confirmed that 44 Sierra Leoneans were deported from the United States in 2025, most of them men.

Meanwhile, police leadership said criminal activity dropped significantly during the festive season, crediting proactive policing, early intelligence gathering and a strong security presence across the country. These measures, they noted, helped prevent major incidents and ensured a relatively peaceful end-of-year period for citizens.

Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening intelligence-led policing, tackling transnational crime and maintaining public safety across Sierra Leone.