By Emmanuel wise Jipoh
A pro-advocacy group, ‘HE For She Crusaders Liberia’ has commended members of the 54th Legislature for the passage of the amended drugs law, making production, importation and exportation of narcotics a non-bailable offense in the country.
Earlier Tuesday, 27 June the Legislature overwhelmingly amended Chapter 14 of the New Penal Law of Liberia titled, “Offense Involving Danger to the person” by adding Thereto Sub-Chapter E under the title: ‘Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2014″, now “Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023.”
When approved by President George Weah, the law will boost government’s effort to fight rampant increase of the drug trade across Liberia.
Addressing a news conference Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Paynesville, the national coordinator for ‘HeforShe’ Crusaders Liberia, Tamba Johnson commended the House of Representatives for unanimously concurring with the Liberian Senate in passing the drugs act, making the offenses non-bailable.
The act is currently before President Weah for signing into law. When signed by the President, it could boost government’s effort to combat trafficking of illicit drugs that are prevalent across the country, damaging mostly the youthful generation.
Mr. Johnson called on President Weah to speedily approve the act to help address issue of illegal substance abuse.
He called for proper implementation of the act when officially printed into a handbill.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
Johnson recently criticized the Liberian Legislature for delay in amending the drugs law that has be lingering before lawmakers, who described as killers of children.
Meanwhile, Part II, count 11 of the current drug law, provides that “Any person who, without lawful authority: imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
It also states that “any person who sells, buys, exposes or offers for sale or otherwise deals in or with the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life; or knowingly possesses or uses the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs by smoking, inhaling or injecting the said drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years but not exceeding 25 years.”
