VOA标准英语2011-Liberia a Long Way From Winning War on Dr

Liberia's Drug Enforcement Agency says it lacks the financial and logistical support to adequately crack down on illegal drug trafficking. Agency officials say the country's weak drug laws are compounding the problem.

According to Liberia's Drug Enforcement Agency, law enforcement officials lack the man power, money and laws to deter¹ drug trafficking.

Colonel James Jaddah is the executive director of the agency. He says there is a need for better logistics within his organization.

"Right now we are operating with only five vehicles, all assigned to headquarters," Jaddah said. "In the other 15 counties we don't have the capacity to purchase vehicles, so this has been hindering our progress when it comes to operational activities."

He says the DEA also lacks adequate financial support, from the government and from the international community.

Jaddah says Liberia's weak drug laws present another serious problem. He says drug dealers³ are more typically fined than jailed, with the average penalty costing a dealer² about $50.

"We go out there and we make all the arrests," he added. "The suspect [is] taken to court, the suspect is being given a cash bill, and as soon as the cash bill is paid, that person is out on the street doing the same thing that they were doing before. The penalty is very weak, it's nothing compared to other countries."

Jaddah says a bill based on Nigeria's tougher drug laws was drafted and introduced to Liberia's Legislature. The lower house approved the bill, but it has since stalled in the upper house.

Although marijuana is locally produced, Jaddah says it is mostly foreigners who bring harder controlled substances like cocaine⁴ and heroin⁵ into Liberia.

Lamin Kollie, 28, a drug user, said he first began taking cocaine during Liberia's civil war years.

"I'm taking cocaine. I've been taking this for more than two years. I can't do without it," said Kollie. "I've been arrested on many occasions, but I manage to escape."

Kollie said if the government would provide jobs, he would stop doing drugs.

Jaddah says Liberian youths who are expected to one day lead the country are falling victim to drug habits. He says more has to be done to prevent drugs from ruining the younger generation

1 deter   

vt.阻止，使不敢，吓住

参考例句：

• Failure did not deter us from trying it again.失败并没有能阻挡我们再次进行试验。
• Dogs can deter unwelcome intruders.狗能够阻拦不受欢迎的闯入者。

2 dealer   

n.商人，贩子

参考例句：

• The dealer spent hours bargaining for the painting.那个商人为购买那幅画花了几个小时讨价还价。
• The dealer reduced the price for cash down.这家商店对付现金的人减价优惠。

3 dealers   

n.商人( dealer的名词复数 )；贩毒者；毒品贩子；发牌者

参考例句：

• There was fast bidding between private collectors and dealers. 私人收藏家和交易商急速竞相喊价。
• The police were corrupt and were operating in collusion with the drug dealers. 警察腐败，与那伙毒品贩子内外勾结。

4 cocaine   

n.可卡因，古柯碱（用作局部麻醉剂）

参考例句：

• That young man is a cocaine addict.那个年轻人吸食可卡因成瘾。
• Don't have cocaine abusively.不可滥服古柯碱。

5 heroin   

n.海洛因

参考例句：

• Customs have made their biggest ever seizure of heroin.海关查获了有史以来最大的一批海洛因。
• Heroin has been smuggled out by sea.海洛因已从海上偷运出境。