ISHMAEL F. MENKOR
Africa-Press – Liberia. Several courts in Nimba County have sentenced several narcotics dealers, addicts, and others after they were found guilty of possession of various banned narcotic substances, the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has disclosed.
The convicts, who are 16 in total, were given different jail terms, the LDEA disclosed. The Tappita Magisterial Court sentenced 10 people to one year each on charges of ‘use of unlicensed substances’.
Those convicted and sentenced in Tappita include Martin Wehyee, Mohammed Konneh, Jackie Wonkpah, Gell Gonquoi, and Alphonso Jimmy. Others are Charles Jay, Charles Jah, Abraham Kamara, Abraham Gweh, and Francis Kpedeh.
Each of the convicts was also fined US$250 and mandated to pay said amount in government revenue upon the completion of their jail terms.
According to the LDEA, the men were arrested with various kinds of drugs, including kush, marijuana, and tramadol.
The LDEA’s Nimba County Commander, Thomas Saye, also revealed that two other persons were also convicted at the Yekepa Magisterial Court and were sentenced to one year each for the illegal sale of heroin.
One of the convicts, Cecelia Paye, was sentenced to three months for illegal possession of narcotic drugs (marijuana), while Mohammed Sheriff was also sentenced to two years in Saclepea.
The LDEA praised the lower courts for speedily handling the drug cases and coming down with verdicts, where the perpetrators were prosecuted.
The Karnplay Magisterial Court, the first Lower Court to begin the prosecution of narcotic drugs related cases in the county, has also sentenced two individuals for being in possession of banned substances.
Worlea Dahn and Chris Worlegbay, the LDEA said, were recently convicted.
“When the courts continue like this, the fight against drugs will yield good results,” Saye said.
These developments in Nimba could come as a boost for the fight against illegal substances in the country. These convictions are happening just a few weeks after the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, commonly called the Drug Law, was signed into law by President George Weah.
President Weah signed the instrument on July 12, 2023, after the National Legislature passed the bill following months of deliberations. The new law aims to regulate, restrict, control, limit, or eradicate the illegal export and importation as well as the flagrant use, abuse, and proliferation of narcotic substances within the borders of Liberia.
The law, in part, provides penalties for specified offenses such as the unlicensed and unauthorized importation of controlled drugs or substances into the country.
The law, for example, states that “a person commits an offense if he/she purposely or knowingly imports into Liberia any controlled drugs or substances without a license from the Minister.”
Apart from the cases in Nimba, no other importers or traffickers, who are the main targets of the law, have been convicted since the law was signed by the President.
The law provides that importers who will be convicted will be guilty of a felony of the first degree and punishable to a prison term of a minimum of ten years and not exceeding twenty years, consistent with provisions of Penal Code 1, Sections 50.5 and 50.6.
Meanwhile, traffickers will be guilty of a second-degree felony punishable by a prison term of not less than five years and not exceeding ten years, pursuant to the provisions of Sections 50.5 and 50.6 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
It is clearly noted that the offense shall be a grave offense and shall not be bailable.
“As to the matter of bail,” the Act states, “only cash to the value of the bond or cash deposit in the bank to the value of the bond as evidenced by a bank certificate.”
Meanwhile, Nimba County is one of the most populous counties in Liberia, with about 20 Administrative districts and nine electoral districts. The county’s huge size is a huge challenge to the LDEA’s operations, especially when it comes to logistics.
“The lack of adequate logistics is obstructing our operation,” Commander Saye said. “Up to now, we have not received the required logistics we need to fight against trafficking and abuse.”
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