The Liberia National Police (LNP) has burned over 280 kilograms of narcotic and other dangerous drugs valued at least L$3 million.

The drugs seized from May this year to November were set ablaze yesterday in Wehn Town in Mount Barclay, few kilometers off Monrovia, Deputy Police spokesman Lewis Norman said.

Drugs abuse and illegal trade continues to be a serious problem in post was , with the Drugs Enforcement Agency, an arm of the Justice Ministry, struggling along with other security forces to counter the situation.

Thousands of kilograms of marijuana, cocaine, and other dangerous substances costing millions of dollars have been confiscated and destroyed, and dealers prosecuted, but the trade still persists.

Marijuana is heavily grown in central and other parts of , which observers say is significantly contributing to its prevalence in the country.

The drugs destroyed yesterday included 350 Kg of marijuana valued at L$2,321,430; 280g of hard substances valued at US$4,500 plus L$1,015,000; and 7,150 pieces of Ectasy-all valued at L$3,336,430.

Almost every month, huge quantities of drugs are confiscated at port of entry and borders in the country. Many of these drugs are brought in predominantly by Nigerian and Ghanaians; many of those involved in drug abuse are young people, most of who fought in the Liberian civil war.

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in June announced that it was simultaneously disposing of a huge consignment of narcotic drugs in the 15 sub political sub-division of the country valued over L$24million.

The disposition of the drugs coincides with the celebration of the International Day of Drug Trafficking and Abuse expected that locally took place in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.

The Director of DEA, Col. James Jaddah, then, said the burning of drugs would be an annual event that to take place on June 26 of each year around the country.

Col. Jaddah said the drugs destroyed in June comprised of 8,143.44kg, equivalent to 8.2 tons. They were confiscated from traffickers within one year period.

The DEA Boss further disclosed that the cocaine component of the drugs confiscated in one year period included 230.4 grams worth L$138,240, while the Italian White, another kind of drug seized nationwide totaled to 52.0 grams with cash value of L$31,200.

Mr. Jaddah said 3.0 gram of heroine valued at L$1,800 was also seized while 36grams of Amphetamine valued at L$1000 was also seized.

Col. Jaddah said there was a need for the establishment of a drug trafficking law, which he said, would help to create punitive measure against people involved with drug trafficking.

He said in 2007, a drug trafficking law was drafted following the collection of drug trafficking laws from sub regional countries and was submitted to the House of Legislature for passage into law.

Mr. Jaddah said it is about time that the lawmakers take the document seriously saying that the situation of drug trafficking in is getting on the rampage and needs urgent attention by national government to save the lives of the inspiring generations.

"I have been a drug addict since the military hostilities started in ," said an ex-combatant identified as Ophelia--who fought with a rebel group during the country's 1989-2003 war-told IRIN in December 2008.

"We used to take drugs like marijuana or amphetamines before going to the battlefront," she said. "They made us very brave to attack and kill our enemies. Our commander used to buy these drugs from across the border...eventually my system got used to them."

The vast fallout from 's war includes a sector of the population damaged by and dependent on illicit drugs. And along with widespread drug use, production and trafficking hamper post-war recovery efforts.

Ex-combatant Ophelia's story is common in , where drug use among youths, and particularly ex-combatants, is rising, IRIN quoted Richelieu Taye, deputy director at 's Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).

"The bulk of people we arrest for drug abuse are ex-combatants," Taye told IRIN. "When these guys take drugs many of them also get involved in criminal activities. It is a huge challenge for us."

Most drug addicts live in and around the capital Monrovia, according to the DEA. The number of addicts is unknown and the DEA is creating a database to determine just how many people are affected, Taye said.

Getting help

Zuo Taylor, executive director of the Monrovia-based NGO Youth Crime Watch, told IRIN the impact of drug use is severe. "Most of these people have serious trauma problems. Many of them do not have jobs."

Ophelia for one steals to buy her drugs. "I have been arrested by police on several occasions, but I managed to escape," she told IRIN. "I really want to stop, but it is difficult. Even as I speak to you, I want to take drugs now. But I don't have any money."

Some drug users have managed to stop with the help of local NGOs. Former drug user and ex-rebel fighter, Samuel Kollie, credited Youth Crime Watch with "transforming" his life. "I used to take drugs every day," he said. "I lost weight and used to get involved in unwholesome acts, but the NGO was able to counsel me and gradually I stopped."

The NGO helped Kollie enroll in a vocational institution where he is training to be a mechanic.

"We use trauma counseling and lots of other methods to help [people] change their attitudes and live rightfully in society," said Youth Crime Watch's Taylor. "It is difficult and takes time, but we are trying our best."

Production

's drug problem goes beyond just users. Farmers are tempted to grow cannabis rather than other crops because profits are higher and the drug can be trafficked relatively easily throughout the region, according to the DEA's Taye. "Local farmers in Bong and Nimba counties [100km and 150km from Monrovia] are constantly planting these drugs to trade regionally."

Much of 's cannabis is grown in southern or trafficked in from , and , according to the DEA's Taye. Since June (2008) the agency, with the help of police from the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has destroyed more than 400,000 cannabis plants in Bong and Nimba counties, according to the DEA.

The UN Police Commissioner in , Henrik Stiernblad, told IRIN: "We are on the alert and will not rest until we ensure that is drugs-free." He said coordination among police units is improving in some areas, with a number of arrests this year.

But the DEA's Taye said police anti-drug efforts are seriously hampered by a lack of basic equipment.

UNMIL mission chief Ellen Loj told IRIN: "The challenge of drug cultivation is something we have to address before it spreads in the region."