The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has turned over to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) two alleged drug traffickers arrested with huge substances at the premises of the Monrovia Central Prison Compound in central Monrovia.
Addressing a hurriedly arranged press conference at the Justice Ministry on 15 October in Sinkor, Assistant Justice Minister for Corrections and Rehabilitation Eddie S. Tarawali named the two suspects as Precious Porka and Daniel Morris.
Minister Tarawali discloses that suspects Precious and Morris were apprehended with substance believed to be Italian white and cocaine which are to be tested at the national drug testing center to know the street value.
Mr. Tarawali also discloses that the substance which was contained in black plastic bags was intercepted with the suspects in the Central Prison Compound by officers at the Justice Ministry.
According to him, the two suspects when investigated by the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) will be the first traffickers to be send to the maximum prison compound located in Grand Gedeh County to serve as a deterrence to would be traffickers and dealers of the substance.
Assistant Minister Tarawali notes that his bureau finds it difficult if not impossible to rehabilitate and reintegrate inmates into the society in the face of continued infiltration of dangerous drug substances at the government – owned correction facilitate.
He then appeals to international partners to assist the ministry to acquire closed – circuit television (CCTV) camera to police the entire movement of people in and out of the prison compound.
According to Minister Tarawali, the CCTV camera will help to track down individuals associated with the importation and trafficking of dangerous substances that continue to create more harm to the youthful population of the country.
He further recommends the establishment of a comprehensive [biometric] system at the correction center to have an organized tracking system of inmates detained.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
Meanwhile, receiving the suspects on behalf of the DEA, the agency’s Deputy Director General for Operations Mr. Marvin M. Sarkoe indicates that foreigners that are engaged in drug business are now using Liberians to sell the substance on their behalf.
According to him, this new method by foreigners is meant to avoid being arrested by the government.
He however assures that the DEA will provide the suspects with all of their constitutional rights which include the rights to remain silent, to legal counsel and to telephone calls, among others.Mr. Sarkoe adds that the suspects are not guilty of the crime until their guilt is proven.The suspects have not made any comment or linked anyone to the drug substance since they were arrested.They are detained at the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitations, awaiting court trial.
By Emmanuel Mondaye–Edited by Winston W. Parley
