A groundbreaking report by the Clingendael Institute and the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime has exposed the devastating impact of “kush,” a synthetic drug that has plunged #SierraLeone and its neighbours into a public health and security crisis. Emerging in the late 2010s, #kush has rapidly spread across West Africa, leaving a trail of fatalities, overwhelmed healthcare systems, and national emergencies in its wake.
The report, titled West Africa’s Growing Synthetic Drugs Challenge, reveals that kush represents a dangerous new chapter in the region’s drug epidemic. Its lethal chemical composition, decentralized production, and rapid proliferation have outstripped previous drug threats, prompting Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio and Liberian President Joseph Boakai to declare national emergencies in April 2024.
Kush is not just another illicit substance; it is a harbinger of a broader synthetic drug crisis sweeping across West Africa. The drug’s market scale, rapid expansion, and catastrophic health impacts have overwhelmed communities and governments alike. In Freetown, the crisis has grown so severe that mortuaries have been pushed to their limits. In 2022, authorities resorted to group cremations to manage the surge in kush-related deaths. Today, the bodies of users are often found abandoned on the streets, collected by authorities at dawn—a grim testament to the drug’s deadly grip.
For years, myths about kush’s composition—ranging from human bones to fentanyl—have hindered efforts to combat its spread. However, recent chemical testing conducted in #Freetown and #Bissau has finally unmasked its deadly formula: a potent cocktail of nitazenes, synthetic opioids up to 25 times stronger than fentanyl, and synthetic cannabinoids like MDMB-4en-PINACA, a compound prevalent in European drug markets.
Nitazenes, which accounted for 48% of drug deaths in Estonia and 28% in Latvia in 2023, are now driving a surge in fatalities in Sierra Leone. The report warns that kush’s chemical consistency across West Africa points to a regional synthetic drug epidemic, with local production replacing imported supplies and fueling its rapid spread.
The human toll of kush is staggering. Overdose-related deaths have skyrocketed, overwhelming Sierra Leone’s fragile healthcare system. The drug’s potency has left users vulnerable to fatal overdoses, while the lack of adequate treatment options has exacerbated the crisis. “Kush kills, and deaths are on the increase,” warned a Freetown medical examiner. The government is already struggling to cope, has been unable to stem the tide of addiction. Meanwhile, law enforcement efforts have faltered in the face of a rapidly evolving and decentralized drug trade.
Initially controlled by a handful of organized crime syndicates, the kush market has since fragmented into a sprawling network of producers, distributors, and users. While pre-processed kush was imported until 2022, local synthesis has now taken over, making the drug more accessible and affordable. This shift has allowed new criminal players to enter the market, further complicating efforts to combat its spread.
The drug’s ingredients are believed to originate from #China, with additional exports linked to the #UnitedKingdom and the #Netherlands. Maritime and postal courier services serve as key supply chains, highlighting the international dimensions of Sierra Leone’s crisis.
Sierra Leone’s gangs, once embroiled in violent turf wars, have pivoted to kush distribution and retail. Ironically, the drug’s market stability has led to a temporary decline in gang violence, as competition now centers on product quality rather than territory. However, this fragile peace belies the broader security threat posed by organized crime’s deepening involvement in the trade.
Corruption within law enforcement and allegations of political protection for key players have further complicated government responses. While high-level political ties remain unproven, the report identifies two major kush distributors with family connections to politicians, underscoring the need for greater accountability and transparency.
The report urges a coordinated, three-pronged response to the crisis. There should be enhanced monitoring and regional cooperation, strengthen data-sharing on synthetic drug compounds and equip West African nations to detect and seize illicit substances, improved scrutiny of imports from Europe and China, while updating laws to target synthetic drugs. In addition, it calls for expanded access to treatment and harm reduction. More must be done to distribute naloxone to reverse overdoses, reform drug laws to protect users, and train healthcare workers to address addiction.
The kush epidemic is a stark reminder of the evolving nature of the drug trade in West Africa. With synthetic drugs becoming more accessible and lethal, Sierra Leone and its neighbors must act swiftly to contain the crisis before it spirals further out of control.
As the government grapples with this unprecedented challenge, the question remains: Will the response be swift and effective enough to stem the tide, or will kush continue to wreak havoc on the country’s youth and public health system?
For now, Sierra Leone stands at a crossroads, facing one of its gravest drug crises in history.
Kush in Sierra Leone (PDF 60p)
