18/08/2026
DECEPTIVE ATTITUDE OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS
BY ALIE BADARA IN BO.
At one of Sierra Leone's vibrant police checkpoints, Fallah in the Kakua Chiefdom, Bo District drug trafficking thrives not only on violence and bribery but also on deception.
In Sierra Leone and beyond, traffickers often rely on misdirection—using human theatrics, staged misunderstandings, and calculated distractions to derail security operations.
The aim is simple: prevent thorough screening, delay intervention, and create opportunities for contraband to pass undetected.
A recent incident at the Bo–Fallah Police Checkpoint on Wednesday, 12th August 2026, at about 20:00 hours, offers a clear window into how deception is used as a strategy.
What began as a routine checkpoint process unfolded into accusations, counter-accusations, and interruptions—raising serious questions about the intentions of those involved.
The Checkpoint Duty: Routine Checks, Serious Responsibility
According to witness accounts, a three-seater van arrived at the Bo–Fallah checkpoint with passengers described as “reasonable.” At checkpoints, the responsibility of the joint security team is straightforward:
check travelers,
inspect luggage, and
ensure movement across the checkpoint occurs only after security procedures are properly followed.
This was the expectation on the night in question. The officer in charge of operations that evening was identified as Detective Police Constable 18286 Patrick Mohamed Ngobeh, described by the community as energetic and committed—especially in matters related to searching and unearthing suspicious conduct connected to drug trafficking.
The Refusal to Be Checked: A First Sign of Red Flags
As part of normal procedure, Ngobeh asked all passengers to step out for inspection before crossing the checkpoint.
He specifically directed the passengers occupying the front seat to comply.
However, the front-seat occupants allegedly refused, arguing that they were footballers, and therefore should not be subjected to checks.
On its own, such a claim might sound harmless. But at a security checkpoint, refusal to follow procedures is rarely accidental.
It becomes suspicious when a group—especially one under screening—uses identity, claims to create exemption from inspection.
That refusal reportedly became the foundation for the chaos that followed.
The Distraction Plan: Allegations, Interruptions, and Confusion
The situation escalated when, during the attempted direction of passengers for inspection, a woman—who was allegedly dressed in a manner resembling a man—became involved in a confrontation.
Eyewitnesses and accounts from the scene claimed she alleged that the inspecting officer touched her breast—either unconsciously or deliberately—and then slapped the officer.
The checkpoint was then reportedly interrupted further when the same woman reportedly grabbed a stick with nails and attempted to hit the officer but missed.
In the middle of this commotion, additional senior police personnel, including an inspector (referred to as Chief Inspector - C.I Gabba) and he was Pearce by the nail (another senior officer mentioned in accounts), were also drawn into the disturb
At the height of the allegations and the violence of the interruption, the inspection process was effectively derailed—exactly the kind of diversion traffickers often benefit from.
The Police Officer’s Response: “Calculated Ploy” to Prevent Searches
In an attempt to present the other side, the media engagement included interviewing the police officer involved.
Ngobeh reportedly denied the allegation that he touched the woman.
According to his explanation, the incident was a calculated ploy—a deliberate distraction designed to take attention away from the most important duty of the checkpoint: checking luggage thoroughly and stopping contraband movement.
He also reportedly emphasized that the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) has a system for conducting gender-appropriate searches, including female units positioned at checkpoints to handle inspections involving women
Therefore, he argued there was no need for any improper act.
Most importantly, he stated that the action appeared premeditated, suggesting traffickers may use a similar methodology across checkpoints to create confusion and prevent officers from focusing on luggage inspection.
What Matters Most: The Vehicle Went Unchecked
When misconduct erupts at a checkpoint—especially when accusations are used to shift attention—security procedures, are sometimes slowed down or halted due to concern for safety and order.
In this incident, accounts indicate that the van ended up moving without being properly inspected, which—according to the suspicion surrounding the operation—was possibly the outcome the traffickers desired.
That is how deception often works: not by overpowering security through direct confrontation but by making security busy with something else.
Formal Reporting by Both Sides
Because allegations and assault-related claims were involved, both sides reportedly made formal reports to the Bo Regional Police Division for appropriate action.
This is significant. Whether the claims are true or false, the system must investigate properly. But beyond the investigation, the strategic pattern described by Ngobeh and his supporters remains: deception and distraction can be used to sabotage checkpoint work.
Public Reaction: Confidence in Police Integrity
When the incident was discussed on a radio talk show program, public reaction was reported as overwhelmingly supportive of the police officers at the Fallah checkpoint—described as 99.9% in favor of the officers.
The public view, as stated in your account, was that officers carrying out their rightful duties should not be undermined by “games of distraction.” People also argued that the distraction approach, if allowed to succeed, risks undermining trust in the integrity of the SLP.
What This Means for Sierra Leone: Strengthening Checkpoint Discipline Against Deception
Drug traffickers use deceptive attitudes because they work. Their strategies often include:
Identity excuses (as “we are footballers” to avoid screening)
Emotional manipulation (fabricated accusations and staged outrage)
Physical interruption (assault attempts to derail routine checks)
Distraction tactics that pull officers away from luggage and documentation
For security agencies and checkpoint teams, the lesson is not only about enforcement—it is about procedure under pressure: maintaining inspection discipline, even when incidents are designed to create disorder.
The Fallah checkpoint incident is more than a clash between individuals; it is a demonstration of how trafficking networks may operate through deception.
Whether the accusations are eventually proven or dismissed through investigation, the reported refusal to comply with inspection procedures and the interruption that followed reflect tactics that traffickers often rely on: divert attention, block thorough searching, and slip contraband through the gap created by chaos.
Sierra Leone’s fight against drug trafficking requires more than bravery—it requires systems that can resist deception and remain focused on the core duty: protecting communities by stopping drugs at every point of entry and movement
