Liberia drug agency heads test negative for drugs
Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency director general and deputies passed drug tests before Senate confirmation hearings.
Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Director General Daniel Dee Ziankahn, Jr. and his two deputies tested negative for illegal drugs on Wednesday. The tests were conducted at the Wellness Health Center in Congo Town, outside Monrovia, and witnessed by journalists.
Ziankahn stated that officers fighting illegal drugs must set an example for the public through good character and discipline. He explained that undergoing the drug test before their confirmation hearing demonstrated the new leadership's commitment to upholding the laws they will enforce. Precious Rue and Prince Mulbah are the deputy directors for operations and administration, respectively.
The LDEA's strategy includes intelligence-led operations, drug prevention, institutional accountability, and partner coordination. This comes after public criticism of the agency's effectiveness and leadership changes following the suspension of former Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald Biago amid cocaine seizures.
Why it mattersThe confirmation of the LDEA leadership affects the government's ability to combat illegal drug trafficking.