MONROVIA, Montserrado – The Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency’s West Point Detachment has raided one of the township’s notorious drug stations, known as Maricanan, and arrested 27 persons.

West Point’s LDEA commander Abdullah Kromah said Maricanan, which has served as a base for recruiting countless youth to use harmful drugs, has been taken over by the LDEA as their new sub-office.

The raid was jointly executed by Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Liberia National Police, along with youth and women’s groups.

Speaking after the raid, Kromah said drug abuse in West Point has become serious and has made many young people and the township vulnerable to criminal activities.

He said most of the 27 individuals arrested during the raid where youth.

“Since we were given this task to serve the DEA in West Point, we noticed that the issues of narcotic drug sales and consumption are very high in the township, so we deemed it necessary with the support of the community authorities to start the raid to clean the township of these guys,” Kromah said.

He further said his team and partners will continue to pursue drug dealers until West Point is free from their influence.

LDEA’s West Point Commander Abdullah Kromah (Right) and West Point Commissioner William Wea (Left) along with others DEA officers. Photo: Morine Pewee

West Point’s township commissioner, William Wea, praised the LDEA for the operation. He said ensuring a safe and healthy environment for its citizens was a government priority. However, he said the LDEA needs to be backed with logistics to implement its work in the township.

“We all know that this government is going [through a] tough time now but this government, under President George Weah, has placed and is still putting programs for youth to understand the harm in taking drugs,” he said.

Alleged drugs dealers who were arrested by police. Photo: Morine Pewee

West Point residents interviewed about Maricanan described it as a dangerous place where prostitution and drug abuse ran rampant during the day and at night. They also described it as a place of high incidence of petty crimes and loud music.

The 27 persons arrested are awaiting court trial and have denied the allegations.

Featured photo by Morine Pewee