Representative Thomas A. Goshua has called on his colleagues to consider an increment of US$300,000 in the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) budget in the 2022 Draft National Budget to enable the agency combat the importation of drugs in Liberia.
The Grand Bassa County lawmaker in his communication to plenary Tuesday, November 30, stressed that his decision to call for an increment of the LDEA budget is as a result of the strategic programs designed by the agency to curtail the growing proliferation of drugs and substance abuse in the country.
Recently, the House of Representatives Committee on Ways, Means Finance and Development Planning began scrutinizing the budget submitted to them recently by the Executive Branch of government.
According to Rep. Goshua, drug and substance abuse are immensely contributing to the increase in crimes and other unscrupulous activities which are taking place in Liberia, and thereby citing the recent incident in Kuwait, on the Bushrod Island.
He added, “We therefore need to consider that there is a growing threat of this menace which is directly affecting the security of the state, the peace of our citizens and if care is not taken, there might not just be a future for the future leaders to lead.”
“Mr. Speaker and colleagues, even though this amount is small, I believe this amount will immensely help the LDEA as the agency lacks logistics and manpower, and with the influx of drugs, we believe that by augmenting the LDEA budget, it will greatly enhance the agency working,” he intoned.
The Grand Bassa County District 5 lawmaker explained further that the total manpower of the LDEA is about 60 percent, noting, “The agency does not have the teeth to bite.”
Meanwhile, following the reading of the communication, plenary through a motion from Nimba County District 7 Representative, Roger Domah then forwarded the communication to its committee on Ways, Means, Finance and Development Planning.