BARCLAYVILLE, Grand Kru (New Public Trust) –The Grand Kru Detachment of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has burnt a huge quantity of illicit drugs with a combined street value of 2.4 Million Liberian Dollars, an equivalent of over US$15,000.00.
The consignment of drugs, which was seized during LDEA officers’ routine operations for 2019, was destroyed on Tuesday December 10, 2019, about five miles away from the provincial capital, Barclayville, southeastern Liberia, over 599 kilometers from Monrovia.
The drugs destroyed include 250 kilograms of Marijuana and 30 grams of Heroine, and the exercise was witnessed by a group of citizens, including local stakeholders.
According to the Acting LDEA County Commander, Albert Saah, the burning exercise demonstrates that there is an appropriable measures taken by his detachment to fight the proliferation of harmful substances in the County, which is said to be causing serious mental instability, especially among young Liberians throughout the country.
He noted that the burning of the illicit substances at this time was prompted by the lack of drugs storage in Grand Kru County.
The LDEA commander is therefore pleading with the County’s administration and Legislative caucus to construct a mini warehouse that will allow the Drugs Enforcement Agency store confiscated drugs.
The Deputy County boss told citizens that although LDEA had considerable success in the fight against illegal imported drugs in the county, but called for more collaborative efforts from citizens to win the war against narcotic drugs in a more robust way.
He urged them to desist from harboring drugs dealers within their respective communities.
The local LDEA official said lack of logistical support still remains a major challenge for the detachment.
But he was quick to add that the commitment from government to give more support to improve operations is encouraging.
The local LDEA officer also said his officers would remain committed and more aggressive in fighting unlicensed procession of narcotic substances in Grand Kru.
In separate remarks, the County Inspector Jacob Karmbor Weah praised authorities of the LDEA assigned in the county for the gains made thus far winning the war against harmful drugs.
He at the same time admonished officers of the detachment to do more in an efforts to making the county drugs free, as alleged perpetrators with not go unpunished in accordance with the laws governing the state.
Mr. Albert Saah then pledged the county officials overwhelming support to the detachment by partnering with relevant authority to finding amicable solutions to some of the problems they are face with to enhance their operations in the county.
Meanwhile, the Grand Kru Youth Development Association President Elijah Wreh appreciated the local DEA officials for a job well done over the period and vowed to embark on massive awareness against illicit drugs trafficking, use and abuse.
According to the Grand Kru County youth leader, this will discourage young Liberians from being drug users and dealers, something he said has the propensity to undermine their future abilities to make meaningful contributions to national development.