BY ARCHIE SEIBOB YINI

IPNews-Nimba: Local office of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA)in Nimba has lauded citizens of the county for the kind of cooperation accorded them during the year 2020.

In an interview with IPNEWS NIMBA correspondent, the LDEA county coordinator, Agent Lincoln B. Nersahn disclosed that through the citizens efforts, they were able to track down and forwarded to court, 21 drug cases.

Out of this number, he said 14 was won by their office while the other 7 cases are still on the court docket for investigation

“We are very grateful in terms of cooperation, the citizens and joint security with their help, the DEA was able to send to court 21 major cases and made follow up and we were able to win 14 out of the number while the 7 are still pending court trial.” he said.

The 7 cases he said, are all filed against Nigerian nationals whose whereabouts remain unknown.

The DEA boss at the same time alarmed over the unprecedented wave of drugs intake by young people of Nimba and Liberia in general.

“The issue of drugs intake is getting concerned to the citizens and they want the DEA to really curtail the practice.” Mr Nersahn disclosed.

He named Italian white, Marijuana and Cocaine as few of the narcotic substances that top the list of cases they received daily and sent to court last year.

According to him, the Italian white is one of those major drugs normally imported by non-Liberians into the country through its major borders and airports who are mostly Nigerians and other Nationals.

He admitted that it very difficult to combat drugs related crimes due to the lack of drugs laws.

He lamented that they are only enforcing on an act that was passed by the national legislature which is not an official legal instrument to work with, something that is seriously impeding their smooth operations.

Mr Nersahn wants government sign the instrument that will make drug crime a non bailiable offense.

He revealed that due to the current state of the country drug law, the court allows drugs dealers to only file bond and go with inpunity.

When cases are sent to court, Nersahn said: the judges will allow the traffickers to pay some money and file bonds, when we follow up, all they tell us is the person is not around.

He expressed fear that if the Liberian government doesn’t pass the drug law, the citizens may fall prey to drug consumption because there would be nothing to back them up in the fight.

He added: we are adding our voice to the many voices that are calling on government to pass the drug law.

According to him, the passage of the law will make it inpossible for drug traffickers to file bond whenever they are taken to court.

When government pass the law, that chance will not easily be there for someone who willfully takes narcotic substances to another country to be arrested and then pay some money to court and be set free.

The DEA boss used the opportunity to comment on the lack of logistics.

He said there is no vehicle and other stationery materials to enhance their job in the county.

He wants the government help in addressing some of those needs if they should make Liberia a drug-freed society.

Nimba is a very large community that carries a high population size, but less manpower in the security sector to contain the rate of criminals in the county.

Meanwhile, the LDEA Nimba detachment has promised to be more robust this year in ensuring that young people are not destroyed by those harmful substances.

He said they will ensure that massive awareness are done this year among young people about the danger of consuming narcotic drugs.