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Liberia Transit Point for International Drug Trade

Liberian Observer (Monrovia)
NEWS
December 8, 2005
Posted to the web December 8, 2005

By Cheechiay Jablasone
Monrovia
Drug enforcement agents at the Ministry of Justice have warned of the dire
consequences that will result from the unchecked and widespread use of several
banned substances in the country.
Two officials at the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) told a press conference
yesterday at its Capitol Hill office in Monrovia that Liberia has been a trans-
shipment point of drugs from South America to Western markets over the last two
decades. The DEA officials further told the news conference that Liberia has
also become a drug trafficking market.
Col. James Jaddah, head of the agency quoting a report of the United Nations
Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), disclosed that nearly 80 percent of Liberia's more
than 100,000 ex-combatants are users of illicit substances.
Col. Jaddah pointed out that currently there are users of marijuana, cocaine,
heroine, Italian white and other illicit and medical drugs in communities
around Monrovia.
The DEA boss disclosed that his agency is finding it difficult to control the
rising use of the substances due to lack of logistics. He claimed that with the
heavy task of curbing the use of drugs, the DEA has only one vehicle for
patrolling.
He pointed out that a few months ago, the agency through the Magisterial Court,
burned various substances seized from drug dealers and users in communities
around Monrovia.
Col. Jaddah alleged that, while the lack of logistics impedes the agency's work
at minimizing the illegal use for drug internally, the Ministry of Justice has
excluded DEA officers from the country's various points of entry. This claim
has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Justice.
He noted that this situation is making enforcement of preventive measures by
his agency difficult.
Marijuana, which Jaddah calls a "drug of choice" in Liberia, is smoked openly
in shanty towns and slums in and around Monrovia.
The DEA boss admitted that there are several marijuana plantations in the
leeward counties; but his agency will not be able to destroy them, owing to
lack of logistics.
The DEA conference was called yesterday after DEA agents arrested 14 people
with 14 grams of marijuana worth LD$5,000.
Alarmingly, the agency said, the bulk of the drugs was found on the person of a
teenaged girl, whose mother, Madam Harriet Toe is said to be a security
personnel at the Central Bank of Liberia.
Col. Jackson Morlu, DEA Deputy Director for Operations, who reportedly headed
the team that carried out the arrest in the Airfield, Sinkor areas, said many
of the persons arrested were drug dealers and users.
According to him, most persons arrested over the weekend are in the agency's
custody and would be processed and sent to court for prosecution.
Mr. Jaddah, however, told the news conference that the court system in the
country is a 'point of frustration' when dealing with people suspected of
involvement in illicit drug activities.
"These people go to court and pay L$3,000 as bail and are released because
there is no drug law in Liberia," he disclosed.
Mr. Jaddah said judgment on drug offences relies on the "Public Health Law" of
Liberia.
He added that his agency would strive to establish a drug law for Liberia,
which would stop drug trafficking from being a bailable crime.
The DEA boss said they have already acquired the Sierra Leonean and Ghanaian
drug laws and are waiting to acquire the Nigerian drug law.
"Once these laws are available", the DEA boss said,"we will hire experts who
will draw up the drug laws for Liberia."
Street children in Monrovia are often accused by residents of involvement in
criminal activities to satisfy their desire for narcotics and other dangerous
drugs.
Jaddah's deputy, Jackson Morlu, said to tackle the issue of drugs, the
Government of Liberia will have to also deal with the high unemployment rate in
the country first.
He disclosed that most drugs dealers in the country see the trade as means of
sustenance.
Jaddah, however, viewed the looming drug crisis as more of an international one
than a national one.
He said the trade is a "cycle", which starts in South America, goes through
Liberia and then on to Europe and America.
He said there have been calls by his agency to the international community to
help arrest the situation in Liberia. "Our cry is yet to be heard, but we will
not stop crying," he concluded.

   

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