Monrovia- Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) President, Augustine Tamba is urging the Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to employ what he called collective and consolidated efforts in their fight against drugs trafficking, especially as the United Nations mission draws down from Liberia.
J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
Serving as guest speaker at program marking the observance of the international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the FLY President said: “as the UNMIL in Liberia officially climaxes it’s task, the Drugs Enforcement Agency needs an increased, collective and consolidated effort in combating the movement of illicit drugs”.
“I therefore like to recommend the following: that special operation be undertaken, requiring the DEA to reduce the presence of its uniformed officers, increase the training and deployment of more intelligence officers to gather precise, accurate, and prompt information for quick action”, he said.
The DEA must also take into account the use of technological instruments to track down drug traffickers”, the FLY president said.
According to Tamba, there should be a vetting process of DEA officers something he said should be based on integrity, trust and nationalism. He added that there must be increase in incentive to avoid what he called the temptation from drug traffickers.
“We must empower the DEA as a state when UNMIL draws down, that is the only way they can be able to provide both comfort for the country and be able to have the society very save”.
The FLY president added: “in terms of our laws we are recommending that there should be tougher punishment for DEA officers who they themselves are the takers of illicit drugs. We must also be able to set a system to get security on security”, he said.
For his part, the Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Anthony K. Soul however called for the increase of social rehabilitation center for the young people whom he said were more users of drugs in the country. He added that drug has increased the crime rate among young people in the country.
“As UNMIL draws down violence is what we fear on the part of our own children. This country is a Godly country but we have some bad politicians who can use our children with drugs to do wrong things, he said.
He added: “we do not want drugs money to disturb us. We should not allow greedy people to come and destabilize what our friends have done for us”, the Director General of the LDEA concluded.
As part of the celebration the LDEA however burned cocaine, heroin, marijuana and precursor all worth LD$9,884, 8755 and 10, 988, 14 United State dollars.