PHOTO: (L-R) LIS Commissioner Nebleh, UNODC official, Jose Alvarez
By Augustine Octavius, By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
The Liberia Immigration Service says it has observed that foreigners and Liberians are still been trafficked by criminal gangs through the Sahel , Morocco and Libya, with desire of seeking greener pasture are dying on a daily basis in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea.
LIS Deputy Commissioner for Administration, Moses Nebleh, disclosed that some of these Liberians and foreigners are also stranded in those countries, while others are trafficked into slavery.
Commissioner Nebleh spoke when the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes presented 14 motorcycles, smart phones and other accessories to the Liberia Immigration Service in Monrovia.
According to him, the issue of human trafficking is now on the world stage because most of this delish acts end up in human rights violations where they are used as sex slaves, laborers and forced labor.
“Some people have developed the habits of faking others under the pretense of taking them to greener pasture whereas the actual is to enslave them and make money out of them.”
“This is the reason why the international community has condemned the devilish act and all countries are taking efforts aimed at stopping it.”
Commissioner Yebleh pointed out that there are lot of people who roaming around the West African region and using Liberia as a means of trafficking others through the Sahara desert, leading to the drowning of them dying in the Atlantic Ocean.
“Many of our people who have left the country thinking that they are on their way to Europe and have died in the Atlantic Ocean while others have landed in the hands of rebels, terrorists and jihadists in north Africa and the Sahel.”
He appealed to Liberians, who are having the money and wishing to travel abroad, to use the legal means in order for them not to be dubbed and trafficked.
The LIS chief assured the UNODC that the motorcycles, smart phones, and other accessories will be used for the intended purpose. The Governance Commission in Liberia has recently raised alarm about the seriousness of drugs trafficking in Liberia.
Some of the donation from UNODC
Presenting the items earlier, the Law Enforcement Expert at the United Nations office on Drugs and Crimes, Jose Alvarez, said his organization is seriously concern about people falling victims to criminal gang, jihadist and terrorists.
He added that UNODC will continue to support countries in the West African region in combating human trafficking and trafficking of narcotic drugs.
Mr. Alvarez then appealed to the legislature to enact laws that will deal with those engaged in human trafficking and illegal transfer of dangerous drugs.
The program was witnessed by senior officers at the Liberia Immigration Service and staffers of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.