The Commander of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Maryland County detachment, Joseph Taggedine, has confirmed the arrest of ‘VIP’, a notorious drug dealer and several others following a day-long raid on ghettos in Pleebo City.
A joint security team comprising officers of the Liberia National Police and Liberia Immigration Service led by the LDEA on Saturday, February 15, raided the famous Green Forest Ghetto on the outskirts of Pleebo and several mini-ghettos in the heart of the city.
Taggedine told the Liberia News Agency that a huge quantity of harmful substances was also seized during the raid.
He promised to disclose the names of individuals involved and the value of the narcotic substances at the close of the ongoing police investigation.
Those arrested, according to Taggedine, are currently in Police custody at the Harper charge of quarters, and that if found culpable they will be forwarded to court for trial.
He said the move is consistent with LDEA’s statutory mandate to lead the fight against the use and abuse of drugs and other narcotic substances in the country.
He added that more concentration is placed on Pleebo due to the number of criminal cases reported there in the last few months.
Meanwhile, Taggedine has lauded members of the Community Watch Forum in Pleebo and the local county authority for the level of support given the joint security team during the operation.
At the same time, Taggedine is urging citizens to identify criminal hideouts to enable the joint security combat drug abuse and criminal activities in the county.
Also speaking to the media, Pleebo District acting youth coordinator, Harrison Brownell, appreciated the LDEA for the exercise and vowed to support whatever endeavor geared towards minimizing the crime rate in the district.
Prior to the raid on the notorious Green Forest, citizens in Pleebo attributed the high rate of criminal activities to the proliferation of drugs in the city, and called on government to put in place measures that will curtail the crime rate.
Many citizens who spoke during a local radio talk show recommended the establishment of rehabilitation centers and creation of opportunities that will keep young people from living in ghettos.
LINA
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