The NEWS (Monrovia)
Monrovia
5 May 2005
Jimmey C. Fahngon — The Liberia National Police (LNP) in collaboration with its international counterpart, Tuesday arrested 20 alleged criminals in the Red Light community in Paynesville outside Monrovia.
The Political Advisor to the international Police Service Commissioner, Jerome Evrard told reporters yesterday at UNMIL regular press briefing that the 20 suspects were specifically targeted by IPS and its Liberian partners noting, "they were not people that we (IPS, LNP) found in the streets during the raid."
He said that seven of the 20 suspects are held for being in possession of narcotics drugs while the others are detained on suspicion for theft of property.
He said that the detainees would be arraigned before the court within 48 hours for prosecution.
The operation, which lasted for three hours, Mr. Evrard said, went on smoothly without any injury.
He pointed out that similar operation would be carried out in other areas suspected of criminals in Monrovia and other parts of the country in the near future.
"We will continue to do this to secure the entire country from criminals especially at the time when elections are expected to be held. We will not allow anything to jeopardize our success," Acting Special Representative of the Secretary General, Ambassador Abou Moussa declared.
Mr. Evrard then called on Liberians to report criminal activities in their areas to LNP and UNMIL for prompt action.
Crime rate has been on the rise in the Red Light area for a protracted period of time, especially at night. Residents of the area have reportedly avoided the streets at night for fear of being attacked by criminals.
They have always appealed to the LNP and its international counterpart to increase their patrol in the area at night to deter criminals from attacking them.
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