-At RIA and Bo Waterside
By H Matthew Turry
To eradicate the use of narcotic drugs and substances in Liberia, the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has made arrests and seized huge quantities of Methamphetamine (KUSH) at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) and BO Waterside respectively.
Providing details to newsmen at its Headquarters in Sinkor, yesterday, August 6, 2024, the Officer-In-Charge, ChristopherK. Peters revealed that the LDEA in collaboration with the Bureau of Customs confiscated two boxes of concealed tealeaf substances believed to be controlled narcotic drugs on July 24, 2024 at the Roberts International Airport (RIA.
OIC Peters told journalists that the boxes of concealed tealeaf substances arrived in the country by way of SN Brussels flight #: SN- 245 on July 19, 2024, at about 5:00 PM.
He narrated by saying, “Upon testing conducted by the LDEA and UNODC on July 25, 2024, the substance contained in the two boxes tested positive for Methamphetamine (KUSH). The controlled narcotics substance seized weighed (10) kilograms with a street value of two hundred thousand United States dollars (USD 200,000.00) or Liberian Dollars thirty-eight million (LRD38,000,000).
According to the LEDA OIC, as a result of the deadly act, the following suspects Raymond Kpehe (Clearing agent of United Parcel Services), and Michael Brown (the Consignee), all Liberians were arrested, investigated, and charged for Importation, Transportation and Conspiracy.
OIC Peters continued that one Mohammed Nyallay, a Sierra Leonean national was also arrested, investigated, and charged for accomplices to the importation of narcotics substance into Liberia, which violates Sections 14.83 and 14 85, of the 2023 drug law as amended, as well as Sections 10,4 and 102 of the penal law of Liberia.
He noted that the three suspects have been forwarded to the Unification Town, Magisterial Court in Margibi County for prosecution.
In a related development, the OIC disclosed that on August 2, 2024, the LDEA Grand Cape Mount County Detachment in collaboration with the Joint Security, searched and seized (31) kilograms of Kush on board a white minibus with a Guinean plate number AD1037, driven by suspect Abass Sannoh, a Liberian national at the BO Waterside Boarder.
He narrated that Suspect Sannoh, a resident of Gardnerville was investigated and charged for Transportation and Possession of Controlled drugs or substances, in violations of Sections 14.85 and 14.89 of the new drug law as amended, as well as Sections 50.5 and 50.6 of the Penal law of Liberia.
He noted that Suspect Abass Sannoh has been forwarded to the Tianii Magisterial Court in Grand Cape Mount County for prosecution.
“The street value of the 31 kilograms of Cannabis Kush seized at BO Waterside is put at six hundred twenty thousand United States dollars (620,000) and its equivalent of Liberian Dollar one hundred and seventeen million, eight hundred thousand (LRD117,800,000)”, he said.
He added that the street values of both seizures from RIA and Bo Waterside amount to Eight Hundred and twenty thousand (US$820,000) or One hundred and fifty-five million, eight hundred thousand (LD$155,800,000).
“The LDEA remains committed to combating the trafficking of controlled substances in Liberia. These significant seizures demonstrate our determination and collaboration with other security agencies to keep our country safe from the dangers of narcotics”, he concluded.
