[By Pewu Y. Sumo]
Monrovia — Honorable Prince Aquency Toles, Representative for Montserrado County District #8 has presented to the Plenary of the 55th House of Legislature a communication seeking to adequately fund the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to enhance its operational capacity.
Representative Toles in his communication to Plenary last week, praised the LDEA for its “commendable and intensified efforts” in recent times, citing a series of strategic arrests and interdictions of major drug traffickers across the country.
“These operational successes are critically important as they directly disrupt the supply chains of illegal substances, thereby minimizing the importation and sale of drugs within our communities,” wrote Rep. Toles. He asserted that this proactive stance is “a vital step towards curbing drug abuse, reducing drug-related crimes, and safeguarding the future of our youth and the stability of our nation.”
However, the communication pivoted to address a critical need: resource allocation. Rep. Toles stressed that for the LDEA to sustain and amplify its positive momentum, it must be “adequately equipped and funded.”
In preparation for the upcoming Fiscal Year 2026 National Budget, Rep. Toles, who chairs the Committee on Claims and Petitions put forth two key requests for the Plenary’s endorsement:
Formal Invitation: That the leadership of the LDEA be formally invited to appear before a sitting of the full Plenary.
Detailed Presentation: That the purpose of this appearance shall be to provide the House with a detailed presentation of the agency’s desired operational, logistical, and capital needs for the Fiscal Year 2026.
Rep. Toles argued that this engagement would furnish lawmakers with the necessary firsthand information to make informed appropriations before the finalization of the budget.
“A well-resourced LDEA is fundamental to winning the fight against the scourge of drug trafficking and substance abuse,” the communication stated, urging his colleagues to “treat this matter with the urgency it deserves.”
The Montserrado County lawmaker has been one of several officials of the government craving the crackdown on illicit drugs in Liberia. In one engagement with his constituents, the lawmaker pushed the need for capital punishment for drug traffickers, arguing that they are taking away Liberia’s future.
The Plenary is expected to debate the motion for the LDEA’s appearance in the coming days, a move that could signal a renewed legislative commitment to the national fight against drug abuse and trafficking.
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