Monrovia – It appears that Liberia’s security actors are finding it very difficult to deal with the influx of narcotic drugs into the country following the latest arrests of loads of marijuana in Grand Cape Mount County.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian, [email protected]
Aware of the threats and challenges of drug-trafficking and abuse, Liberia’s Solicitor General Cllr. Daku Mulbah has called on citizens and foreigners to jointly fight against the crime in the country.
Cllr. Mulbah stressed that drug trafficking and abuse in the country are major challenges to the justice system, which he said needs a “joint fight not only by security forces but communities and schools as well”.
He stated that measures are currently being put in place to ensure that the drug laws in the country are strengthened in order to safeguard the country and its people especially the youthful populations.
He expressed concerns that drug traffickers used money to secure bonds whenever they are arrested, a situation that makes it difficult to prosecute them.
The Solicitor General made the statement at a joint press conference held over the weekend with the Deputy Director of Operation of the Drug Enforcement Agency, Marcus Soko.
Soko confirmed that on June 24 at 5:15 Pm a truck traveling from Grand Cape Mount County to Monrovia with lots of commodities including foodstuffs was arrested at the Klay Check Point by DEA agents with 267 Kg of marijuana hidden among the goods.
He put the street value of the drug arrested at LD$2,126,600 and US$14,236.00 respectively.
Soko revealed that two persons on board the truck identified as Aaron Taylor and Fanta Kanteh have been arrested and arraigned by the Bomi County Magistrate Court for prosecution.
Meanwhile, the Solicitor General added that it was unfortunate that a huge quantity of drug could be discovered in the country just days after the observance of the international day against drug.
However, the drugs have been taken back to Bomi County and were destroyed on Saturday, June 30, 2018.
“I have instructed all my prosecutors to take sample of drug cases that come before them for their evidence and disposed of the rest as no prosecutor will be allowed to keep any huge quantity of drugs for the sake of evidence,” said Cllr. Mulbah prior to the destruction of the arrested drugs, adding that all security personnel assigned at the various border points have been put on alert to crack down on drug traffickers.
Disclosing his latest campaign in the fight against narcotic drugs, Cllr. Mulbah continued that there will be a public awareness in various communities, schools, and marketplaces across the country to inform citizens about the danger of drug abuse.