The Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) has suspended five of its officers after failing drugs test. 

The suspended officers were found to be cannabis and opium users, reports The Point. 

“As part of the continued reform initiatives aimed at maintaining professional standards and in compliance with policy instruments as provided for in the agency’s Staff Service Rules and Staff Code of Conduct, the agency conducted drug of abuse tests for all staff of the agency,” Ousman Saidybah, DLEAG spokesman said. 

“The Staff Service Rule talks about the conduct and discipline of staff. It prohibits staff from consuming any form of intoxicant or illicit drug while on duty, abusing any form of illicit drug while in the employment of the agency and equally directs the agency to conduct periodic tests on all staff to determine their drug use status.”

He added that “the staff code of conduct deems staff intoxicated or under the influence of any form of illicit drug unfit for duty and service”.

Mr Saidybah said everyone at the agency was tested and that the test was conducted by an independent laboratory. 

He said the officers were tested twice in a two months interval and the first test returned 22 positive for cannabis. 

“This result was presented to the board and they decided to suspend them for two months without salary with a condition to subject them to retest at their own cost.

“After the two months period, they were subjected to another drug test. [And] 21 of those on suspension availed themselves for a retest while one person abstained by failing to make himself available,” Mr Saidybah said.

“After the second retest, five persons were found to be positive. Four for cannabis and one for opium. These five persons in addition to the one who abstained presently on indefinite suspension pending decision of their fate by the Board of Governors”