- As Illicit Drug Fight Lingers Perpetually
IPNEWS: Over the years the subject of illicit drug trafficking and subsequent sale in Liberia by unscrupulous individuals and cartels have triggered calls for the Government through the Legislature to enact tougher laws in the clampdown of those contrabands that are consistently infused on the markets to the detriment of young Liberians, mostly especially wayward street criminals (known as ‘Zogos’), as well as other residents of the country.
For some Liberians, the fight against the drug war in the country has to mainly focus on the root causes by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) by instituting stringent measures at all ports of entry without fear or favor. The public in some instances has consistently accused the LDEA of reportedly compromising illicit drugs trafficking with alleged traffickers and dealers. But on the contrary, the LDEA over the years has denied those public accusations and complained of inadequate logistics to combat drugs traffickers and dealers; and has repeatedly called for budget increase and tougher laws that will make drug crimes unbailable.
When the LDEA submitted a draft bill to the Legislature to enact tougher illicit drug trafficking, sale and usage law, Liberians were of the hope and conviction that the bill when enacted would significantly serve as a deterrent for those who would venture into the unscrupulous act of drug trafficking, dealing and sale in Liberia. For years the LDEA has pleaded with the Legislature for the passage of the law, but it seems those cries have continued to fall on deaf ears, apparently due to the lack of political.
So it came as no amazement to the public recently when a comm
ander of the LDEA, Martha Massaley, while serving as one of the panelists at a forum of high school students to commemorate observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Friday, June 25, 2021, lamented the war against illicit drug in Liberia was a tough task owing to the alleged involvement of top VIPs in the country. She referenced an unnamed lawmaker, who she claimed was caught with bags of marijuana and cocaine powder at a checkpoint and he got away with them.
She was asked to speak on the challenges facing the LDEA in its fight against illicit drug and what the agency was doing to address these challenges as it strives to reduce the trafficking of narcotics in Liberia.
Commander Massaley said: “I won’t call his name before I be held in contempt, and for security reasons. He came driving in his big car. And the female officer stopped the car and said ‘Sir, can I just look in that car. She did not know him, but I know him and some of my colleagues know him. And he said even if you search my car and see anything there, you can’t do anything about it. So, no need for you to search my car. So, she said yes Chief, but please give me the benefit of the doubt let me just look in the car. When she opened the car, see the bag of drugs – marijuana one bag, the cocaine powder there, the heroin powder there. When I saw it, I got up, in an attempt to approach him, already we had bitter blood… he pulled off the car.”
Following the publication of Commander Massaley’s revelation in a local daily, the House of Representatives of the 54th Legislature got outraged due to the generality of LDEA commander’s allegation and was on Tuesday, June 29, summoned along with her boss, Director Michael Zehyoue for clarity. When Massaley and her Director appeared they found themselves in the midst of the House Plenary, which was fully charged in the Chamber.
Nevertheless, Massaley admitted to the allegation but noted she was not referring to any member of the current 54th Legislature; rather to a member who served the Legislature during ‘past administration.’
Prior to being grilled by Plenary, Commander Massaley who had earlier appeared tougher and energetic openly apologized to members of the House for her blatant accusation against an unknown lawmaker and begged for mercy. Despite her apologies, majority of the lawmakers were not convinced with her clarity as they kept interrogating her to identify the lawmaker in question.
And based on the request of majority members on the floor, House Speaker Bhofal Chambers ordered the tape to be played during the hearing. But Montserrado County District #12 Representative, George Samah, who was also present at the event when Massaley made the accusation, suggested that the hearing be held behind closed doors to allow her to speak out freely, adding, she might be afraid to speak in open session. Also Mariamu Fofana of Lofa County District #4 pleaded with her colleagues to accept Massaley’s apology and grant her forgiveness.
But most of the lawmakers including Reps. Samuel Kogar (District #5, Nimba County), Ivar Jones (District #2, Margibi County), Clarence Massaquoi (District #3, Lofa County), Edward P. Flomo (District #13, Montserrado County), Moima Briggs Mensah (District #6, Bong County), Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis (District #4, Montserrado County), among others demanded her to identify the lawmaker in question. Additionally, Rep. Massaquoi entreated her to call the names of the person that drove away with the bags of illicit drugs she splendidly described during her deliberations. Rep. Flomo asked whether Commander Massaley reported the incident to her superior, and if she did, what her Superior’s response was.
As she faced bombardment on the plenary floor by several lawmakers, Commander Massaley suddenly turned frail and was unable to stand nor sit after she had endured hours of questioning.
On the instructions of House Speaker Bhofal Chambers, the LDEA commander was rushed to an unnamed hospital by other LDEA agents who had accompanied the Director and her to the Legislature, to seek medical attention after she disclosed that her blood pressure had risen and she needed to see her doctor.
The abrupt end of the Tuesday’s session was attributed to Commander Massaley’s reported illness, but political pundits believe that the agent felt intimidated by the lawmakers’ barrage of questions from all angles. Some believe she got afraid and apparently that she would be sent to jail by the lawmakers for reportedly bringing the House of Representatives to public disrepute. Some Liberians who heard about the inquiry via local radio stations of the hearing said an Executive session would have been more preferable to get the answers the lawmakers wanted to hear from the LDEA commander.
It is however unclear if Commander Wesley will return to the House of Representatives to conclude the hearing in an attempt to clarify and clear the House of the alleged drug trafficking saga that she alluded to at a program in Liberia where she served as a panelist in observance of International Day of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Friday, June 25, 2021.
