As the police dragnet, now extended outside Monrovia continues to glean more suspected criminals at their hideouts, many drug suspects are defiant saying their prolonged detention is not panacea to the trafficking and use of illicit drugs in Liberia.

Police on Tuesday charged 41 allegedly suspects with unlawful possession of narcotic drugs and remanded them at the Monrovia Center Prison pending court trial.

Before heading for detention, some of the suspects told New Democrat that they wanted the government to pardon them because detaining them for long periods would not solve the (drugs) problem.

“It is true that some of us here were engaged in smoking and selling drugs. Our attitude needs to be discouraged. But jail or sentence will not help because the crime is bailable. I go to jail today and file a bond later…the government will not have time to run after this case. So, pardon us with a strong warning in order to discourage us from such acts,” suggested 21-year-old Morris Fallah.

For Harry Mensah (19), “Smoking drugs is just a habit for me. The action of the police against me was justifiable and I think I have learnt from it. But the government needs to forgive us.”

“Let the government give us a last change because prolonged detention will not solve the problem. I think we will change this time around,” pleaded Erick Wesseh (34).

But Jerriline Blayee (22) and Mamie Zoryou (25) claimed wrongful arrests, saying, “only because we live near a ghetto where police arrested some drug suspects”.

Both women said they would “not plead for mercy as done by our male counterparts”.

Mamie Zoryou insisted: “We will follow this case to the end. We will secure a criminal appearance bond through our lawyers and the police will prove their case against us.”

Police said the action by the drug suspects violates Section 41.23 of the public health law of Liberia.

Immediately after Col. Chris Massaquoi took charge as chief of police last November, he vowed to uproot criminals especially drug deals and users as well as armed robbers from their hideouts throughout the country.