By Jacqueline Lucia Dennis
The Senate President Pro Tempore Albert Tugbe Chie wants speedy Investigation into illegal the smuggling of Arms and ammunition into the Country.
“We have been following reports from the security sector of current situation involving the Smuggling of arms into the country, a huge cache of sophisticated weapons and ammunitions by some Liberians with sinister motives”.
Senate Pro Tempore Chie, made the statement recently at the opening program of the 6th and final sessions of the 54th Legislature on Capitol Hill, urging the Ministry of Justice and other security agencies to meticulously investigate the matter, establish the motives, level the appropriate charges and prosecute those responsible.
He said 2023 being election year, deployment of additional trained security throughout the country will be a priority, the Senate, through its oversight responsibility will be involved in the discussion and implementation of the relevant security plan towards the realization of that objective.
According to him the Senate has had several meetings and hearings with security actors on the state of “our nation’s security.” The constitution empowers the Legislature to provide for the security of the republic (Art. 34b) and to make rules for the governance of the armed Forces of Liberia.
He however said, the Senate will work with the Armed Forces of Liberia in reviewing its existing rules to ensure they are updated in line with international best practices, “we hereby request the Senate Committee on Defence and Security to establish contact with the AFL to commence the work.”
It can be recalled in early January of this year 2023, the joint security forces and the Liberia National Police seized a huge consignment of arms and ammunition at the Free Port of Monrovia designated for a client on the Old Road in Sinkor.
Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue told the public through a press conference at the LNP headquarters on Thursday January 5, 2023 that following the confiscation of arms and ammunition at the free port of Monrovia based on intelligence the police were able to make some arrests which led to the discovery of additional arms and ammunitions at a house outside Monrovia.
The police also named Benjamin Baker, a resident of the United State of America as the prime suspect of the illegal importation of the firearm seized at the Freeport of Monrovia. Updating Journalists on several issue over the weekend LNP spoke man Mr. Carter said the Investigation is still ongoing and said further information on that arms issue the general public will know the outcome.
