Africa-Press – Liberia. xWhat’s in the law?
The new anti-drug 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 Liberia.
It groups drugs and controlled substances in categories called “Schedules.” They are grouped in Schedules I II, III and IV.
Drugs prohibited in Schedule include Acetorphine, Acetyl-alphamethy, lfentanyl, Acetylmethadol, Alfentanil, Allylprodine, Alphacetylmethadol and cocaine among others.
In Schedule II, prohibited drugs include Acetyldihydrocodeine, Codeine, Dextropropoxyphene, Dihydr, Ethylmorphine, Nicocodine, Nicodicodine, Norcodeine, Pholcodine and Propiram, while Drugs in the third schedules include Acetyldihydrocodeine, Codeine, Dihydrocodeine, Ethylmorphine, Nicodicodine, Norcodeine, and Pholcodine. These drugs in Schedule III, according to the law, also fall within this category when compounded with one or more other ingredients and containing not more than 100 milligrams of the drug per dosage unit and with a concentration of not more than 2.5 per cent in undivided preparations.
The penalties
The law provides penalties for specified offenses such as the unlicensed and unauthorized importation of controlled drugs or substances into the country. It termed the importation of controlled drugs, 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 the Penal Code Section 50.5 and 50.6. The offense shall be a grave offense and shall not be bailable.
It adds: “Where the subject matter of the offense is a drug or substances listed in schedule I, or II, III and IV to be used for the purpose of trafficking, the person shall be guilty of a second-degree felony punishable to a prison term of not less than five years and not exceeding ten years. Where the subject matter of the offense is a drug or substances listed in schedule II, III and IV pursuant to the provisions of section 50.5 and 50.6 of the Penal Law of Liberia.”
“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.”
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