DRUG DEALERS TO FACE TOUGH ACTION

The newly inducted Executive Director of the government's autonomous
agency responsible to deal with illicit drugs, called the Drugs
Enforcement Agency (DEA), Col. James B. Jaddah has promised a tough
action against those who continue to deal in illicit drugs.

He said the agency will be deal with users of narcotic, illicit and
psychotropic substances in the country.

Col. Jaddah said in order to reduce the high rate of the illicit drug
consumption and forestall drug trafficking, distribution, and sales
the DEA Director said his agency would work hard to reduce if not
stop the use of illicit drugs. He the agency is working on a
reduction by about 65% within the next six years.

Speaking during his induction Friday at the DEA headquarters in
Sinkor, Col. Jaddah also promised that during his administration the
inspection, investigation of business houses in the Country, and the
eventual destruction of marijuana farms will form part of his
administration's strategy.

According to him, DEA personnel are expected to be deployed at all
ports of entry, and the agency will increase its manpower to cover
the entire Country to be able to effectively combat the proliferation
of contraband substances.

Other evil acts that the agency is working against are human
trafficking, and the development of an effective capacity building
method to include training on the national and international levels
for manpower development in areas of laboratory, technology. Such
training will incorporate investigators, prosecutors and judges in
drug proceedings.

He maintained that the drug enforcement agency will continue its non
enforcement policy by adopting an awareness campaign through out the
nation especially in high schools, colleges, universities, on
community radio talk shows, with street parades, in sporting
activities, jingles, and with bill boards.

He noted that one of the major problems that is hindering the
progress of drug enforcement in Liberia is the lack of drug laws in
the Liberian constitution. The only law that country has, he noted,
is the public health law on narcotic drugs, which he indicated is not
actually a drug law and is a billable offense.

"When a suspect is arrested and charged for selling and distributing
contraband substances, that suspect can be granted," he noted.