PHOTO: The Prison visitor on her way to the Monrovia Central Prison
By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmaial.com
After the recent passage of the new law on illicit drugs in Liberia, a Liberian woman has been caught in the dragnet for allegedly violating provisions in the law, which includes stricter penalties for drug offenses.
The Ministry of Justice through the Bereau of Correction and rehabilitation has arrested and forwarded a Liberian female identified as Janet Swaray to court for possessing drugs worth over ninety thousand Liberian dollars and the axe of this new drug has landed on this prison visitor.
Defendant Swaray was arrested on Wednesday, August 23, and subsequently charged along with her accomplice Theophilus Tarr, who is already jailed at the Monrovia Central prison for the crimes of unlicensed possession, sale, distribution of controlled substance, and criminal conspiracy.
In the writ of arrest issued for defendant Swaray, believed to be a prospective high school graduate, maintained that she was apprehended while trying to smuggle a white parcel into the Monrovia central prison where her accomplice, co-defendant Theophilus Tarr, is currently detained on allegation of Arm Robbery.
But, speaking to reporters at the grounds of the Temple of Justice, defendant Swaray said that she was ordered by her boyfriend co-defendant Tarr) to purchase few items for him to take at the Monrovia central prison, where he is detained.
According to her, after purchasing the item, Tarr informed her to meet a person on Center Street to collect an item in order to bring it over to him.
Swaray narrated that, after collecting the item from the unidentified individual, she immediately placed it in her bag, which, according to her, was wrapped in a white tissue. Tarr later instructed her to remove it and placed it in her bra.
“When I was reaching at the gate, he informed me that I should put it in my bra and I did and it wasn’t my first time going there.”
She furthered: ” When i reached, the officer I know told me to get on the line for inspection as usual, but while searching me, the lady uncovered the white tissue in my bra.”
Defendant Swaray said she was informed that by officers at the Monrovia central prison that the white parcel earlier placed in her bra was an illegal substance, for which she was arrested.
The act committed by the defendants under the law is said to be criminal, illegal, and in violation of section 14.107 of the new penal code law of Liberia.
However, the new drugs law passed, highlighted unlicensed possession sales and distribution of controlled substances as a non-bailable offense with a minimum of 10 years jail sentence.
It can be recalled that in July of this year, the president of Liberia George Weah signed the drug Bill into law, which is considered a milestone to control the usage of illicit substances amongst the youthful populace.
The passage is seen as a fight against illegal drugs and substance abuse, that is a threat to national government and a peril that has the propensity to destroy, endanger and rob thousands of Liberian youths of a better future.
According to numerous reports, Liberia has one of the highest rates of drug use in West Africa, where males are more likely to use drugs than their female counterparts.
It is estimated that two in ten youths in Liberia are users of narcotic substances. To sustain the desire and use of narcotic drugs, these young people who live in ghettos, street corners, and cemeteries often resort to crime, including armed robberies.
Experts say the new law will help to reduce drug use and drug-related crime in the country and prevent youths from being destroyed.
With the defendant being arrested smuggling cocaine on orders of co-defendant Tarr, who is an inmate at the Monrovia central prison; a place considered as a correction center for those who commit crimes, one who say, the drugs are smuggled daily under the watchful eyes of the very security responsible to change the lives of inmates.
Since the passage of the new drug law, defendant Janet Swaray is the first person arrested and forwarded to court. The law is expected to be tested on defendant Swaray, who is believed to be in her early twenties.
Meanwhile, she has been forwarded to the Monrovia central prison, where she will stay until her trial begins.