As Some Drugs Offense Now Become Nonbailable
PHOTO: Tamba Johnson, Coordinator of He for She Crusaders Liberia
By Alfred Kollie, alfredkolliejr92@gmail.com
“Let all Liberians who are against drug abuse vote President Weah out, if he failed to sign the current drugs act that is before his desk before the October 10 elections,” He for She Crusaders Liberia National Coordinator Tamba Johnson noted.
He for She Crusaders Liberia is a not-for-profit organization that is into advocacy, human rights and other key areas in society.
The National Coordinator of this pro-democracy group, Tamba Johnson has commended the House of Representatives for unanimously voting and concurred with the Liberian Senate in passing the drugs act, thus making drugs a nonbailable offense in Liberia.
“An Act to Amend Chapter 14 of the New Penal Law of Liberia Under the Title: “Offense Involving Danger to the Person” by adding thereto Subchapter ‘E’ Under the Title: Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2014,” now ‘’Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023.”
The Legislature on Tuesday, June 27, 2023 during the 13th Day sitting of the 2nd quarter of the 6th session of the 54th National Legislature unanimously passed the drugs Act.
Due to several calls and pressure from concerned Liberians and Civil Society Organizations about stronger laws on drugs, the Plenary of the Liberian Senate Thursday, November 10, 2022, passed into law the ‘Controlled Drug and Substances Act of 2014.
The Act has now been sent to the office of President George Weah for approval or enactment in law that will govern all sustenance activities in the country.
But speaking recently in an interview in Paynesville, Mr. Johnson called on President Weah for speedy approval of the instrument.
“Let this signing or enactment of this act serve as one of President Weah’s legacy to leave behind in protecting the youthful population’’.
He for She Crusaders National Coordinator however stressed the need for implementation of the law not just enacting it into law without action.
“The passage of the act came as a boost to our many advocacy and call for the protection of the country’s youthful generation,” he said.
Recently, Johnson described the legislature as killers of the Liberian youth for their failure to pass the drugs act and call on Liberians to vote them out of power come October 10 elections.
Highlights of the new drugs law
According to Part II, count 11 of the current drug law, provides that “Any person who, without lawful authority:
“(a) imports, manufactures, produces, processes, plants or grows the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life; or
(b) Exports, transports or otherwise traffic in the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life”.
It further states that “any person who sells, buys, exposes or offers for sale or otherwise deals in or with the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to be sentenced to imprisonment for life; or Cd) knowingly possesses or uses the drugs popularly known as cocaine, LSD, heroin or any other similar drugs by smoking, inhaling or injecting the said drugs shall be guilty of an offense and liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not less than fifteen years but not exceeding 25 years.
The House of Representatives’ decision came day after the celebration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and illicit Trafficking on the 26 June 2023.