There We Go Again: Another Drug Bust on the Cusp of the October 10 Elections

There is no scarcity of illicit drugs on the streets of Monrovia, which now bears the dual distinction of being Liberia’s Capital City and its largest market for contrabands. 

The Drug Dealers and their Agents are doing a booming business and reaping astronomical profits, all to the detriment of the nation’s youths and young adults, the primary prey of this notorious criminal empire. 

This is a national problem, devoid of political considerations, that is apparently snowballing and must be addressed with the urgency it deserves, or we risk the unpleasantry of our beloved Patrimony becoming a Narco State, and this I cannot countenance. 

Why is it that such huge quantities of illicit drugs are readily available on the Liberían market and how come this escapes detection at the various points of entry into the country (the Freeport of Monrovia, RIA, and our borders)? The skeptics ask. Is it that the Liberían Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) is ineffective and needs to be strengthened professionally and technologically to adequately cope with the increasingly crafty and cunning techniques employed by drug smugglers? 

The skeptics further ask. The fact that there is a proliferation of dangerous addíctive illicit drugs throughout the nation which has virtually marginalized many of our potentially promising youths, should be concerning to all parents, especially now that we are aware of the devious schemes devised by the Cartels to get their contrabands into the country. 

This should not be seen as a matter to score points by any political party because it impacts the futures of our children, írrespectíve of which side of the political divide we sit. By a stroke of luck a little less than two months ago, the US Government tipped-off the Liberían Security Services that a ship from Brazil carrying a container with illicit drugs clandestinely concealed among its cargo was enroute to the FreePort of Monrovia. 

The vessel arrived at the Port and the container was duly inspected, cleared by the Port's Security Services and released to an Agent of the Intended Recipient. 

However, upon receiving the information from the US authorities, Agents of the Liberían Security Services tracked the container to a warehouse owned by the Abijaoudi Group of Companies where US$100 million worth of illicit drugs concealed among its cargo was discovered. This was the largest quantity of illicit drugs that had ever been discovered in Libería. 

How had such a huge amount of contrabands evaded detection by the Port's Security Services. This was rather suspicious. Less than two weeks ago, Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) personnel stationed at RIA arrested its Director of Security for attempting to smuggle US$40 milíon worth of illicit drugs through an unauthorized gate, deliberately violating its security protocol. 

These two incidents convey the depth of the problems presented by the Unabated intrusion of contrabands into the social and economic fabrics of our nation, thereby exacerbating the marginalization of the youths and young adults, and virtually casting a dim light on the national future. 

Given the immense resources invested by the Cartel to ensure the perpetuation of its lucrative business in Libería, stemming the flow will not be an easy task, although it is doable. But the drug problem cannot be politicized, for this involves the future of our children, and, in the long term, the wellbeing of the Liberían State. 

A resolution of this nagging problem demands the concerted effort of all parents, írrespectíve of political persuasions. We must remain united as a people and resist the urge to be persuaded by our passion for political gain, or we shall lose the battle to the Cartel. 

Finger Pointing is not the way. Let’s put Liberia first. AND SO YOU HAVE IT!

Editor's note: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Daily Observer's editorial stance.