Gbarnga, Bong County – The Intelligence Officer of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency Bong County Chapter, Darius Melen, has been suspended for three months by the Director General of the LDEA, Marcus Soko, after he (Melen) reportedly and unanimously released an alleged drug dealer.
Josephine Daniels, 28, was last week arrested by a soldier of the Armed Forces of Liberia with huge quantity of marijuana valued at over L$50,000. She was later detained by police after it was established that a senior member of the LDEA was reportedly caught transporting the drugs with Josephine.
Josephine’s arrest had sparked a serious scuffle between soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia and members of the LDEA after an LDEA officer attempted thwarting her arrest.
While no one was injured during the scuffle, it paralyzed normal activities for nearly an hour at the Iron Gate check point, where the incident happened in Gbarnga, Bong County.
While in police custody, Melen reportedly signed for Josephine and allowed her to escape.
Allegations of LDEA officials in Bong County recycling drugs to dealers, who they arrest have dogged the LDEA since Melen took assignment in Bong County two years ago.
It can be recalled in January 2017, Melen was accused of reportedly compromising an arrest of a drug dealer in Gbarnga, who would later be his friend. When asked he denied the allegation and termed it as a smear campaign intended to besmear his character.
The release of Josephine by Melen is angering citizens of the county, with many calling on the LDEA authorities to further prosecute Melen to produce the suspect.
According to Joseph Peabody, a father of two, the LDEA should prosecute Melen beyond suspension because he facilitated the suspect’s release without her facing investigation.
Peabody said prosecuting Melen would serve as a deterrent, especially in the wake of claims that LDEA officers are in the constant behavior of aiding drug dealers transport huge quantity of drugs across the checkpoint.
Bong Residents Hail Melen Suspension
This week’s suspension of Melen has been greeted with joy from some citizens of the county, who are in the fight against drugs.
Some parents have hailed the move by Director Soko and have termed it as “the right step in the right direction.” “This is a good beginning and a good precedence. I want to laud Director Soko and his entire staff for this decision to suspend Darius Melen. This will send a caveat to those who are in similar behavior,” said a 32-year-old resident of Civil Compound community only identified as Theo.