Fadiga pointed out that engaging directly with criminal elements can pose serious risks, and there may be legal implications if any actions taken infringe upon the rights of individuals.
Monrovia – Former Deputy Director for Operations of the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Hassan Fadiga has cautioned Liberians, especially community leaders, against unilaterally cracking down on suspected drug traffickers and dealers in their various communities without the involvement of law enforcement officers.
By Obediah Johnson
Fadiga said it is “risky” for community leaders and others to single handedly demolish structures perceived to be harboring drug abusers and dealers in their communities in the absence of state security officers.
He sounded the caveat in a comment posted on his official Facebook page on Thursday, August 14.
He stressed that though the proactive effort being applied by the community dwellers to address issues relating to ghettos and enhance safety is admirable, it is essential for the public to collaborate closely with law enforcement officers during this process.
Fadiga pointed out that engaging directly with criminal elements can pose serious risks, and there may be legal implications if any actions taken infringe upon the rights of individuals.
“Working together with authorities can help ensure a more effective and safe approach. Furthermore, considering our historical context of mob justice, such commendable efforts could be weaponized or misused, leading to consequences for innocent individuals.”
He pointed out that the involvement of law enforcement officers, particularly agents of the LDEA to arrest, confiscate and demolish ghettos and structures used for drug trafficking and trading is guaranteed under the new drug law.
Fadiga added that no action, suit, prosecution or other proceeding shall lie against the LDEA, any member, officer, or employee thereof in respect of any act done or omitted to be done in good faith in the execution of their duties.
He disclosed that this provision of the law offers a level of legal protection to agents that may not extend to the general public.
As a result of this, Fadiga noted that, community leaders and dwellers must be careful with the manner and form in which they go about demolishing properties they considered as ghettoes, as part of their efforts to crack down on the flow of illicit drugs into Liberia
“It is crucial to engage law enforcement in these community-led initiatives to ensure safety and legality.”
The latest caveat sounded by Fadiga comes amid intensifying efforts from citizens in some communities to identify , demolish and ensure the arrest of illicit drug traffickers, traders and users in their various communities.
Citizens have begun the process of demolishing various makeshift and abandoned buildings or structures in their respective communities they perceive are serving as “hot spots” for the trading of narcotics and other dangerous substances to mostly young people.
The community dwellers’ action has led to the arrest of suspected drug dealers and users and the confiscation of illicit drugs worth thousands of United States dollars.
Their action stemmed from the staging of a recent protest by the “Say No To Drugs” campaigners in the Liberian capital, Monrovia recently.
The protesters presented a petition to the government. In the petition, the campaigners claimed that Liberia is bleeding due to the influx of illegal drugs not only in Monrovia, but other parts of the country.
“Our beloved Liberia is bleeding; communities are living in fear, despair and hopelessness. Every day we witness the heartbreaking scars of our families and friends lying on the street corners like they are living dead.”
They observed that many of the victims of drug abuse are “young people with bright future”, including doctors, teachers and national leaders, amongst others.
They emphasized that dangerous illicit drugs have invaded Liberia, destroying families and tearing apart the social fabrics of the nation.
The petitioners maintained that though some of these illicit drugs are being sold in the country for as little as L$150 (US$0.75cents), it leads to disorientation, organ damage, deaths, amongst others in the lives of citizens, particularly young people.
They maintained that parents continue to bury their children as a result of drug overdose and shed tears on a daily basis as they watch their children roaming the streets begging and stealing from others just to “feed an addiction that they cannot control.”
The petitioners emphasized that drug addiction has reached an uncontrollable peak in Liberia.
They observed that battling and overcoming drug addiction remains one of the most difficult challenges confronting the victims, many of whom are young people.
Quoting a 2023 report from the Global Action for Sustainable Development, the petitioners claimed that Monrovia and its surroundings account for about 65% of substance consumption cases, with other 866 ghettoes where illicit drug activities are ongoing and serving as homes for thousands of drug users.
They pointed out that the real enemies of drugs who are traffickers and dealers having their accomplices in positions of authority in government, are the ones being set free though they are responsible for the deaths and unstoppable addiction of many young people in the communities.
They added that these people are the ones responsible for the “tears of our mothers and fathers and the collapse of our communities.”
“While families are grieving and communities are collapsing, drug traffickers continue to operate with impunity. This cannot continue. We refused to remain silent any longer. Therefore, we the people of Liberia demand immediate and decisive action from our country to save our nation from this menace.”
They called on lawmakers to amend the current drug law, through the input of citizens, to increase the penalty for convicted drug traffickers from 20 years to life imprisonment.
They further called for investment in the rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse even at the level of the prisons and support to at-risk youths.
They want the properties and other assets acquired by convicted drug traffickers and dealers confiscated, sold and resources diverted to support mental health and rehabilitation programs in the country.
The petitioners recommended that ships or airlines transporting drugs via the sea or air be fined US$100,000 and US$200,000 for first and second offenses respectively.
They called for vehicles or other land carriers confiscated for trafficking drugs in Liberia to be sold and proceeds generated transferred to mental health, prevention and other reintegration programs.
According to them, the government must also visit customs tariffs on the importation of the different kinds of drugs and establish a specialized court to fast track drug-related cases.
The petitioners also want the government to establish the Liberia Drug Prevention Rehabilitation and Reintegration Agency to augment national efforts and take greater actions towards the prevention and rehabilitation of victims of drug abuse in Liberia.
They requested that the President issue an executive order, declaring illicit drugs a national pandemic like Ebola and Covid-19 and August 7 annually as Liberia’s National Drug Day.
The petitioners further proposed the establishment of a presidential anti-drug task force to include representatives from civil society organizations, religious institutions, the Armed Forces of Liberia, Liberia National Police (Liberia National Bar Association to work along with the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency.
They added that the task force should be clothed with the responsibility to create awareness, set up a call center, follow up on drug related cases, and establish community drug task forces, amongst others.
Meanwhile, the government has promised to act on the concerns raised by the petitioners.
