View source for Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency

The '''Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency''' (LDEA) is an [[Government agency|agency]] established within the [[Liberia]]n government on December 23, 1998, charged with fighting [[drug-related crime]]s. The LDEA is supervised by the [[Ministry of Justice (Liberia)|Ministry of Justice]] and is charged with fighting drug trafficking at the country's borders,<ref name=million>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201112160232.html DEA Seeks U.S. $6 Million to Wage Drug War], [[AllAfrica.com|AllAfrica]], 2011-12-16.  Accessed 2012-06-03.</ref> arresting [[Illegal drug trade|traffickers and dealers]], and destroying illegal drugs.<ref name=destroys>[http://allafrica.com/stories/201110040693.html DEA Destroys Over LD$10 Million Drugs], [[AllAfrica.com|AllAfrica]], 2011-10-04.  Accessed 2012-06-03.</ref> The LDEA is not responsible for overseeing [[Legal drug trade|commerce in legal drugs]] and other [[Pharmaceutical drug|pharmaceuticals]]; such substances are within the purview of the [[Pharmaceutical Board of Liberia]].<ref>"Operation Fake Drugs To Commence Soon".  ''The New National'' 2004-10-19: 8/6.</ref>

== History ==
Before its creation, fighting drug crimes was a responsibility of the [[Ministry of National Defense (Liberia)|Ministry of Defense]].<ref>"$20,000 Marijuana Destroyed", ''New Liberian'', 1981-02-02, 7.</ref>  The agency began as the National Drug Committee of the [[Interim Government of National Unity]]; it was created in 1993 during the presidency of [[Amos Sawyer]]. Five years later, the committee was converted into its present form: President [[Charles Taylor (Liberian politician)|Charles Taylor]] signed a bill passed by the [[Legislature of Liberia|National Legislature]] that created the LDEA and patterned it after the [[Drug Enforcement Administration]] in the United States. 

In 2011, the LDEA boss was Director Henry Shaw,<ref name=destroys /> but by 2012 he had been replaced by Anthony Souh. According to LDEA boss Anthony Souh, the agency suffers from substantial internal [[Political corruption|corruption]].<ref name="heritage">[http://heritageliberia.net/index.php?view=article&id=1685 DEA Boss Gets Tough], ''[[Heritage (Liberia)|Heritage]]'', 2012-06-01.  Accessed 2012-06-03.</ref> Directors are appointed by the [[President of Liberia|President]] subject to [[Advice and consent|confirmation]] by the [[Senate of Liberia]].<ref name="heritage" /> 

== See also ==
* [[Opioid_addiction_in_West_Africa#Liberia|Opioid addiction in Liberia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|ldea.gov.lr}}

[[Category:Government agencies established in 1998]]
[[Category:Drug control law]]
[[Category:Law enforcement in Liberia]]
[[Category:Drugs in Liberia]]
[[Category:Government agencies of Liberia]]

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