Monrovia, Liberia – The Control Drug and Substance Act of 2023, sometimes known as the Drug Law, was signed into law by President George Manneh Weah. After the Drug Bill was recently passed by the National Legislature after months of deliberate study and deliberation, the President performed the historic duty on July 12, 2023.
The new law attempts to manage, regulate, prohibit, or outlaw the unlawful export and importation of narcotics as well as their blatant use, abuse, and spread inside the Republic’s territorial jurisdiction.
The law includes provisions for punishment for specific infractions such the illicit importation of restricted substances into the nation without a permit. The legislation stipulates that it is illegal to purposefully or intentionally import “any controlled drugs or substances” into Liberia without first obtaining a license from the Minister.
The Act additionally stated: “The offense of importing controlled drugs or substances without a license shall be graded as where the subject of the offense is a drug or substances.”
It further states that “the person shall be guilty of a felony of the first degree and punishable to a prison
of a maximum of ten years and not exceeding twenty years consistent with’provisions of the Penal Code 1, section 50.5 and 50.6.”
It is clearly noted that the offense shall be a grave offense and shall not be bailable.
The Act outlines where the subject matter of the offense is a drug or substances listed in schedule II, III
and lV of the Law to be used for the purpose of trafficking, the person shall be guilty of a second degree
felony punishable to a prison term of not less than five years and not exceeding ten years pursuant to the provisions of section 50.5 and 50.6 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
Only cash up to the value of the bond or cash’ deposit in a bank up to the value of the bond, as proved by a bank certificate, are allowed as bail, according to the Act.
A person commits an offense if they manufacture or prepare any drugs or substances that are listed in Schedules I, II, ll, or IV, or precursors or essential chemicals that are listed in Tables I and II of the Act, without a license.
According to the law, this person faces a prison sentence of between 0 and 20 years or as outlined in Section 50.5 and 50.5 of the Penal Law of Liberia. They will also be guilty of a first-degree crime and, if used in any other way, a second-degree felony.
President Weah’s dedication to combating illegal drugs and substance misuse, a scourge that has ravaged society and threatened and robbed thousands of Liberian youth of a better future, is further demonstrated by the passage and subsequent signature of the law.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
