Authorities in Yei River County in Central Equatoria State have banned the sale and consumption of illicit drugs and unlicensed alcoholic spirits as part of a renewed crackdown aimed at curbing crime, protecting public health and addressing substance abuse among young people.
The directive follows the implementation of Central Equatoria State Gubernatorial Order No. 35/2026. The county government subsequently issued Local Order No. 4/2026 establishing enforcement teams to implement the ban. The order took effect on June 25, immediately after it was signed by County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo.
The prohibited substances include Kick, Muhaba, Vodka, Hunter Gin, Tramadol and other illicit drugs and unlicensed alcoholic spirits that authorities say have become increasingly common across the county.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Commissioner Malimbo said he had ordered the immediate confiscation of banned substances from shops throughout the town to protect young people from the effects of substance abuse.
“I have passed the local order to ensure there is a thorough crackdown on dangerous substances and unlicensed illicit drinks. We are banning these illicit substances because they are destroying young people in the county. When they take substances like Tramadol and others, they turn violent. We are not banning Tramadol itself, but the problem is where it is being sold to young people,” he said.
Major Jimmy Lomoro Cosmas, director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Yei, said police would continue operations to seize banned substances in the town and surrounding areas.
“We have crimes that result from consuming these dangerous substances. As you can see, some have already been confiscated here, and we are going to continue with our operation. Anyone who does not cooperate shall be arrested,” he said.
Yei River County Health Director Simon Sebit warned residents against abusing Tramadol and consuming illicit alcoholic drinks, saying the substances can cause severe damage to the liver and kidneys and may ultimately lead to death.
“My warning is that all these substances, including Tramadol and illicit drinks, cause severe damage to the body, particularly the liver and the kidneys, leading to complications in their functions. I want young people to listen to our advice and refrain,” he said.
Malimbo warned that anyone found selling or consuming the prohibited drugs or unlicensed alcoholic spirits would face a fine of 1 million South Sudanese pounds or up to three months in prison.
“From tomorrow onwards, if we find anyone selling these drinks, even a single bottle, they shall be fined 1,000,000 South Sudanese pounds and imprisoned for a period of three months. By doing this, it will reduce crime because most of the crimes committed by young people are driven by these narcotics,” he said.
The enforcement teams have been tasked with identifying, confiscating and eliminating the illegal sale and distribution of the banned substances while working closely with security agencies and other relevant authorities.
Yei River County is the third county in Central Equatoria State to ban the sale and consumption of narcotics within the past month, following similar measures in Kajo-Keji and Morobo counties.
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