The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Director General-designate, Abraham Kromah, has vowed to arrest any member of the Legislature who might be caught in the use or trading of drugs.
Kromah said the move is intended to ensure all ports of entry to the country are secure from the importation of illegal drugs and harmful substances in the country, noting that some people in past governments used their position and the proximity to power and led the importation of harmful substances in the country.
He made the disclosure over the weekend, during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on National Defense, Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs.
Amidst the proliferation of drugs and other narcotic substances in the country, Kromah, a former Deputy Inspector General for Operations of the Liberia National Police, was nominated by President Joseph Boakai to help curtail the menace.
Kromah, who operates a private security firm, was very robust against terroristic acts that were allegedly perpetrated or facilitated by motorists, commercial bikes, tricyclists, and crimes generally, during his service with the LNP.
Outlining his first 100 days plan for the LDEA, Kromah assured that if confirmed by the Senate, he pledged to firstly go after lawmakers who would be involved in the smuggling and importation of drugs in Liberia.
According to him, gone are the days that lawmakers will want to use their legislative power to undermine the fight against drugs, stressing to disregard any request by all government officials to compromise the safety of the State, especially the lives of the youths, who are the victims of the pandemic.
As part of his first 100 days plan, Kromah vowed to ensure the conduct of a random illicit drug test for all staff and agents of the LDEA, and emphasized, “If a single officer or staff the LDEA is tested positive for drugs, they will be dismissed from the force.”
The LEDA DG-designate promised to work with local and international partners in actualizing President Boakai’s declaration of drugs and harmful substances as “National Health Emergency.”
He maintained, “Distinguished Senators, in my first 100 days in office, with the help of our partners, especially the US and EU, I will rigidly enforce the country’s drugs law that has been dormant since its passage.”
“My team and I will also work with the Multiple Sectoral Steering Committees that were set up by the President to fight this drugs pandemic, ensuring that President Boakai’s mandate is fully implemented to save our youthful population from drug abuse,” Kromah assured.
Meanwhile, Kromah also promised to engage with the government to increase the salaries of his officers as a motivation to actualize their fight against drugs, saying, “I think if LDEA officers receive a salary that is commensurate with their task, they would perform on the job. So, giving an officer at least US$400 as a monthly salary would be something that will be appreciated.”
