By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Bong County Detachment has arrested five alleged drugs dealers in the county, including females, in collaboration with the joint security, some 169 kilometers from Monrovia.
They have allegedly been involved in the sale of narcotic substances including Marijuana in quantities of over 200kg, with a street value of over half a million Liberian dollars (LD$515,000.00). The current exchange rate in this West African country today is one US dollars to 198-199 Liberian dollar.
Speaking in Gbarnga at a press conference recently, the newly assigned LDEA Bong County Commander, Special Agent Justin Quetoh disclosed, that the five persons include: T-Girl Sampson age 40, Obena Eddie (Nigerian) age 32, and Mark Yan age 41 respectively.
Three of the alleged drugs dealers were arrested in July by the joint security in David Dean Town and changed for “alleged sale of narcotic substances” and sent to Botota Magisterial Court, according to the local LDEA commander.
David Dean Town and Jackson Village in Bong County Districts #1&2 have been labeled by residents of the county as highly transit points for narcotic substances sale because of what they believe “there are mining activities ongoing in the two districts
The two others were Mary Jean, age 32 and Henry Kollie, age 19. The two alleged drugs dealers Special Agent Quetoh said, were arrested in Totota by the joint security including the Police Support Unit (PSU), changed for sale of narcotic substances and sent to the Gbatala Magisterial Court.
The LDEA Commander further said that the narcotic substances seized were turned over to the Liberia National Police (LNP) ‘for safe keeping’.
He also disclosed, that several bags of marijuana were recently arrested from a taxi driver, who was heading to Monrovia, by his officers assigned at the Gbarnga New Iron Gate.
The LNP is currently carryout investigation into the arrest, Commander Quetoh said.
Meanwhile, Special Agent Justin Quetoh has urged residents of Bong County to fully cooperate with his Gbarnga Office by assisting with information regarding the sales of narcotic substances in the county.
He said if this is done, it will help government minimize the sale of narcotic substances in the country and further helps to reduce the level of crime perpetrated mostly by young people as a result of intake of narcotic substances.
Commander Quetoh maintained that the office of LDEA Bong County Detachment remains opened to the public, adding that residents should expect the best from him as LDEA newly assigned commander in terms of fighting to minimize the sale of narcotic substances in the county.
The LDEA Bong County Commander succeeded former Commander Uriah Geleh in April this year and actively started official duty on April 20, 2020.
The latest crack down on the illicit drugs trade in Bong County comes in the wake of calls by LDEA authorities and other quarters of the Liberian society calling for the country’s drugs law to be made stronger, making the crime nonbailable.