GBARNGA, Bong – The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency has set ablaze narcotic substances valued at L$1,836,380 (US$12,242) in Gbarnga.

The substances included marijuana, heroin, and expired pharmaceuticals, according to James Borbor, Bong’s LDEA commander.

“The total is about 229 kilograms, and these substances were retrieved from the various checkpoints in the county, including some communities in Gbarnga,” Borbor told The Bush Chicken.

Borbor is seeking logistical support from the government and citizens’ collaboration in the fight against drugs and crimes in Bong.

Maj. James Borbor, Bong’s commander of the LDEA. Photo: Moses Bailey.

He said at present, there is a single vehicle being used by the agency in the entire county.

“Our main challenge in this county is logistics; most of these places where the drugs trade is being carried out are inaccessible. Only motorcycles can reach to some of these places,” Borbor said.

He called on Bong’s residents to report drug traders and manufacturers in their communities to the LDEA, as a means of helping the agency make the county drug free.

Bong’s county inspector, Victor Wesseh, who represented the local county leadership at the burning exercise on Tuesday, praised the LDEA for the arrests and the confiscation of the harmful substances.

Victor Wesseh at the burning event. Photo: Moses Bailey.

Wesseh said the government has a greater part to play to minimize, if not stop, the proliferation of drugs in Liberia.

“As leaders of Bong County, we remain committed, and we will work with the Joint Security of our county to fight drug trade and abuse here,” Wesseh said.

Meanwhile, Borbor has named several towns in Bong’s first electoral district as “towns where marijuana is mostly grown by locals.”

LDEA officers preparing the narcotic substances for burning. Photo: Moses Bailey.

The towns are Palala, Duta, Zabay and Galai.

This is not the first time for the LDEA to set ablaze drugs in Bong; the agency has in the past periodically burnt narcotic substances it seized from drug traffickers and users.

Featured photo by Moses Bailey