PHOTO: Commander Joseph Tageddine
By Charles Gbayor, maorethason1997@gmail.com
HARPER, Liberia- As Liberian Lawmakers drag their feet on the passage of a tougher narcotic drugs law making the crime nonbailable, there is no letup in the trafficking of dangerous substances, including Marijuana across the country, as some are caught while a large number of others go scot free.
Here is this southeastern city, the Magisterial Court has sentenced a 22-year-old man identified as Eric Wessiah to 12 months in prison after pleading guilty for being in possession over 81-wraps of compressed marijuana. That was since December 25, 2021.
Speaking to www.newspublictrust.com in Harper via mobile phone, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Maryland Detachment commander, Sergeant Joseph Tageddine said suspect Eric Wessiah was arrested on Christmas day at the little Wlebo checkpoint, while en route to Fish Town beach outside harper to celebrate the Christmas day.
Suspect Eric was charged and sent to harper’s magisterial court where he was investigated and found guilty.
According to our correspondent, the perpetrator has been sent to the Fish Town Central Prison where he will be observing his 12 months imprisonment.
Sergeant Tageddine said: “Following the early morning search, Eric was arrested with 81 compressed marijuana under a soft drink in a cooler, in the name of going to sell soft drinks on the beach but from our intelligence, we were able to discover this huge quantity of drugs which he was carrying to be sold to many young people on the beach during the Christmas day celebration.”
The LDEA Commander said despite the numerous challenges and negative statements from citizens, the LDEA remains committed to discharging its duties and responsibilities to protect the lives of Liberians including the young people.
He used the occasion to caution citizens of Maryland County to work with the Drug Enforcement Agency and to see it as their own, trust it and stop the undermining, especially with negative statements.
Commander Tageddine also encouraged the local dwellers to report every strange happening in their respective communities for effective prosecution.