Pubdate: Thu, 18 Nov 2004 Source: Analyst, The (Liberia) Copyright: 2004 Analyst Liberia Contact: http://www.analystliberia.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3511 Author: George Borteh OVER US$1M NARCOTIC DRUGS BURNED Kakata Police Say They're On Full Alert The Liberian National Police (LNP) in collaboration with the International Police Service (IPS) yesterday burned several bags of narcotic drugs valued at US$1,224,000 in Kakata, Margibi County. According to information, some plain-clothes officers of the security apparatus of Kakata assigned with the Ghanaian Contingent in the County recently arrested several bags of narcotic drugs or Marijuana. Reports gathered by this paper revealed that buck of the burned drugs were taken from Bong and Nimba Counties where massive growing of marijuana is said to be on the increase. Reports also have it that large farms of drugs were recently discovered by the government security network who the reports say are waiting for order from Monrovia to take appropriate measures. At the same time, the Stipendiary Magistrate of the Magisterial Court in Kakata, Mr. Jacob S. Foko told reporters minutes after the burning of the drugs that those arrested in connection with the marijuana have since been released on bills. According to him, the authority in Kakata apprehended 15 persons. They later turned them over to the court for prosecution, he said. The Magistrate intimated that the court does not have the power to adjudicate the case in its entirety, adding that it can only carry on what he called "preliminary hearings." For his part, Assistant Police Director for Criminal Investigation Division of the LNP, Mr. Nicholas A. Perkins lauded the UNMIL and other security agents, saying that the arrest and destruction of the grass was a major step. He said they could boast of men and women who are capable of bringing to book those who are filling the market with loads of Marijuana. He also confirmed reports about the existing of large farms of marijuana in Bong and Nimba Counties, saying that there are plans to move on these areas. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin