THE NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (NDLEA) IS AN AGENCY THAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2007 JUST AFTER THE COCAINE SAGA. IT HAS BEEN UNDER SERIOUS CRISIS SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT. THIS AGENCY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATING DRUGS AND OTHER ISSUE WHICH IS BEING STATED IN PART 5, SECTION 24 OF THE ACT WHICH SAYS “FOR THE PURPOSE OF THIS ACT, THE AGENCY SHALL BE THE FOCAL POINT AND SHALL TAKE A LEAD ROLE IN ALL INVESTIGATIONS CONCERNING DRUGS, ANALOGUES, CONTROLLED CHEMICALS, CONTROLLED MATERIALS AND CONTROLLE D EQUIPMENTS IN SIERRA LEONE”.
ACCORDING TO INVESTIGATION, THE IRONY FOR THIS AGENCY IS THAT SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 2007 IT HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CARRY ON ITS MANDATE DUE TO LACK OF FUNDS AND OTHER VITAL ASSISTANCE WHICH SHOULD ENABLE THEM TO CARRY OUT ITS FUNCTIONS EFFECTIVELY. MANY MECHANISMS HAE BEEN PUT IN PALCE BY THE INSTITUTION TO SEE HOW BEST IT CAN TACKLE THE ISSEUE OF DRUG ABUSE IN THE COUNTRY, BUT THE SUPPORT IS NOT THERE TO ACTUALISE ITS VISION.
WE ALL KNOW THAT THE USE OF DRUGS IS HARMFUL. DRUG HAS CAUSED A LOT OF HAZARDS IN THE LIFE OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY. SO IF THERE IS NO WAY TO REGULATE THIS ISSUE, THEN I’M AFARID THE FUTURE OF OUR NATION IS IN DANGER BECAUSE THE YOUNG ONES ARE BEING ENDANGEED. ACCORDING TO NDELA 2014 STATUS REPORT, IT STATES THAT “THE UNDISPUTABLE FACT IS THAT THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF SIERRA LEONE LAWLESSNESS, CRIMINALITY, BAD AND UNACCEPTABLE PUBLIC BEHAVIOUR AMONG SCHOOL PUPILS AND YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IS CLEARLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE OF SUCCESIVE ADMINISTRATION TO TACKLE THE NOTORIOUS ILLEGAL DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY CANNABIS”.
IT FURTHER MORE STATES THAT, THE PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH DRUG ABUSE POSE REAL CHALLENGES TO SOCIAL SECURITY AND IS A BARRIER TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND DEMOCRATIC CONSOLIDATION. SO FOR US TO HAVE A BETTER SIERRA LEONE WHERE THE YOUNG ONES WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE POSITION OF GOVERNANCE AND WORK TOWARDS DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY, WE MUST PUT A STOP TO DRUG ABUSE BY EMPOWERING THE NATIONAL DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY TO EMBARK ON ITS MANDATE.
