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url: hMPp://allafrica.com/stories/201312171534.html
A local Liberian human rights group under the banner, "Stop AIDS in Liberia (SAIL)" has accused officers of the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) of extorting money from peaceful citizens in the country.
However, when contacted, the Director of the DEA, Anthony Souh said he was not in the position to comment on the matter because he has not seen the assessment report in question.
The assessment report, according to SAIL, was conducted among drug users and members of the public.
The group said the assessment was conducted in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties.
SAIL said the assessment was conducted to educate the population on HIV and AIDS, the need for peer support groups and to expose challenges and issues affecting people in the five counties.
In a Power Point presentation on key findings from the assessment at a stakeholders meeting held in Monrovia, SAIL Program Officer Evans L. Adofo said findings from the county's consultations revealed that drug users' rights are often violated by DEA officers assigned in those counties.
Mr. Adofo alleged that officers of DEA are in the habit of entering into citizens' homes without search warrant in the name of checking for drugs.
He noted that the assessment revealed that during the search, monies are extorted from the citizens.
Although Mr. Adofo did not state the overall monetary value of the loses that have occurred during the search, but noted that SAIL's findings showed that "most times following these unlawful search action by DEA officers, people lose money and other valuables including, computers".
"When they are sometimes arrested, DEA officers will request from them money in exchange of their freedom. This I belief must stop because we are all citizens of this country, regardless of whether the individual is a drug user or sex worker. We have to treat them the best for whom they are as mandated under our Constitution," Mr. Adofo indicated.
When contacted via mobile phone Monday, Mr. Souh said, there are so many national and international rights groups that do not know how security agencies including DEA function, as such, he will comment when he is provided copy of SAIL assessment report indicting officers of the DEA.
A local Liberian human rights group under the banner, "Stop AIDS in Liberia (SAIL)" has accused officers of the Drugs Enforcement Agency (DEA) of extorting money from peaceful citizens in the country.
However, when contacted, the Director of the DEA, Anthony Souh said he was not in the position to comment on the matter because he has not seen the assessment report in question.
The assessment report, according to SAIL, was conducted among drug users and members of the public.
The group said the assessment was conducted in Montserrado, Grand Bassa, Margibi, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties.
SAIL said the assessment was conducted to educate the population on HIV and AIDS, the need for peer support groups and to expose challenges and issues affecting people in the five counties.
In a Power Point presentation on key findings from the assessment at a stakeholders meeting held in Monrovia, SAIL Program Officer Evans L. Adofo said findings from the county's consultations revealed that drug users' rights are often violated by DEA officers assigned in those counties.
Mr. Adofo alleged that officers of DEA are in the habit of entering into citizens' homes without search warrant in the name of checking for drugs.
He noted that the assessment revealed that during the search, monies are extorted from the citizens.
Although Mr. Adofo did not state the overall monetary value of the loses that have occurred during the search, but noted that SAIL's findings showed that "most times following these unlawful search action by DEA officers, people lose money and other valuables including, computers".
"When they are sometimes arrested, DEA officers will request from them money in exchange of their freedom. This I belief must stop because we are all citizens of this country, regardless of whether the individual is a drug user or sex worker. We have to treat them the best for whom they are as mandated under our Constitution," Mr. Adofo indicated.
When contacted via mobile phone Monday, Mr. Souh said, there are so many national and international rights groups that do not know how security agencies including DEA function, as such, he will comment when he is provided copy of SAIL assessment report indicting officers of the DEA.
