The Liberia Medicine Store and Retail Pharmacy Association Inc (LMSRPA) has expressed serious frustration over the operation of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA).The Association through its president Prince Zor states that the LDEA embarrasses the association by usually entering their pharmacies and medicine stores to collect their medicines under the pretense of raiding Tramadol.
Tramadol which was made for serious body pain, is mostly being used here by some individuals as drug that makes them dizzy, without medical prescription by doctors.The LDEA is totally against the usage of the drugs because it treats people badly.But the head of the pharmacy association Mr. Zor says some of the LDEA members are in the constant habit of forcibly entering most of the medicine stores, seizing their drugs and referring to them as Tramadol.
He urges that LDEA to be careful during inspection at various drugs stores, adding that their actions have led to serious setback to some members of the Association.Mr. Zor alleges that some of the LDEA officers collect monies from pharmacists during inspection, adding that it is not good for the growth of the Country.He pledges the Commitment of the Association to sell the best drugs to citizens, instead of the expired drugs.
When contacted by this paper, Bong County LDEA Commander Alex Taweh described the allegation as untrue, stating that at no time did his officers collect legal drugs from medicine stores.Commander Taweh says the LDEA remains committed to ensuring that necessary things are put in place to curtail drugs trafficking.But he notes that they are not collecting medicines or money from people that are
legally serving the Country.Mr. Taweh concludes that since he took over, the LDEA county team has not gone to any medicine store to carry on raid.
By Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Bong -Edited by Winston W. Parley
