DEA burns drugs valued L$74, 000.00

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in Gbarpolu County, western Liberia has burnt several dangerous substances arrested from traffickers and dealers.

Performing the exercise over the weekend, county superintendent Armah M. Sarnor, said if the sale illicit drugs must be prevented, government should provide logistical support to the DEA detachment in Gbarpolu.

The local government official maintained that though the county has taken some measures to curtail the narcotic trade in the county, some unscrupulous individuals were still transporting the substance to the county.

He said if government provided logistics for DEA officers, the fight could be more effective and robust against those involved in the distribution of the substances.

DEA Commander in Gbarpolu, Emmanuel Pettiquoi, disclosed that among drugs arrested and burnt include, 65 kilograms of marijuana estimated at L$74,7500.00; 1,500 kilograms of drugged kanyan, a locally made food produced from farina and groundnuts mixed sugar, which is estimated at US$75.00, and Ashe (drug mix with tobacco) estimated at L$2,200.

Commander Pettiquoi said the lack of logistics to his office has made the operation of the DEA difficult if not impossible, considering long distances his men to travel to arrest and transfer suspects.

He disclosed a suspect who was being transported from Kongba district to Bopolu escaped after he reportedly attacked the DEA officer conveying him on motorbike.

The ceremony was graced by several dignitaries, including officials of UNMIL, Liberia National Police, the Judiciary and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, among others. By Our Gbarpolu County Correspondent – Editing by Jonathan Browne