Margibi: DEA Wants More Manpower

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) local office in Margibi County says it wants more manpower deploy in the county to fight the rising wave of drugs there. The local drugs agency also said it wants checkpoint erected at Rennie Farm on the Kakata-Gbarnga Highway

The DEA Commander Col. Augustine Doe said additional manpower is been asked for because there is a need to deploy (assign) them in strategic areas that are considered “drug hot zone” in the County and on the Kakata-Monrovia highway.

The Margibi DEA boss told reporters how the local agency have scored some marks in the arrests of drug traffickers and users, adding that most of the arrested  persons have been  charged with illegal possession of narcotic substance in accordance with section 41.23 of the Public Health Law of Liberia.

He said those arrested recently have been forwarded to court for prosecution. “There was 100kg of marijuana impounded which value LD$ 225,000.00,” he said.

Col. Doe said drugs entering Monrovia and other areas adjacent are coming from Nimba, Bong and Lofa Counties, where the substance is being grown in high quantity.

“Kakata is the route that is close to Monrovia. Therefore, there is a need for the checkpoint to be erected to search vehicles and other moving objects,” He added.

The local commander cautioned the public to beware of some medicinal drugs like Diazepam, Tranquillizer among others, which are being abused on the market.  “There is a serious need that government design strategy that will stop unqualified drug peddlers from selling on the street”.

Meanwhile, the Agency in Margibi has launched an operation code name “Dragnet”. The campaign is to raid the county of narcotic drugs. Col. Doe said the exercise is progressing in the fight against drug trafficking and abuse.