– Sen. Dillon Demands Action on LDEA’s Deputy Director Allegations Against Gov’t Officials
By Jerromie S. Walters
Montserrado County Senator Abraham Darius Dillon has called for immediate action following serious allegations made by Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Deputy Director Gwee Forkpa regarding government officials’ involvement in the country’s drug trade. In a Facebook post on Thursday, August 14, 2025, Senator Dillon described the accusations as extremely grave and warned that leaving them unaddressed casts a shadow over all public officials.
His words: “It is being widely reported that Deputy Director Gwee Forkpa of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has publicly alleged and accused “some public officials” within the Govt of being directly involved with drug trade and or enabling the drug trade in Liberia. This is grave and must not go unattended; the allegation must be treated with seriousness it deserves. If left unattended, the allegation leaves negative aspersions on ALL public officials. We must separate the ‘sheep’ from the ‘goat’; name and shame!!!”
The Senator emphasized the need to separate innocent officials from those allegedly involved, insisting that the Ministry of Justice must act promptly to investigate these claims. He stressed that Deputy Director Forkpa should either provide concrete evidence to support his allegations or face consequences for making unsubstantiated claims that tarnish the reputation of government officials.
“The Executive by and through the Justice Ministry must act now on this grave allegation. Alternatively, upon our return from BREAK, we will immeditely rally the Senate to summon the LDEA Deputy Director in open PLENARY to have him identify and name the specific or particular “public officials” allegedly involved with credible facts and evidence so as to push for appropriate legal actions in keeping with Law!” he added.
Senator Dillon declared that if the Executive Branch fails to address the matter adequately, he will mobilize the Senate to summon Forkpa for a public hearing upon their return from recess. The goal would be to compel the LDEA official to name specific individuals allegedly involved and present credible evidence, paving the way for appropriate legal action.
The Allegations:
Recently, the Deputy Director General for Administration of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Gwee Forkpa, described the LDEA’s current anti-drug trafficking system, describing it as fundamentally flawed. Forkpa contrasted the present system unfavorably with the more effective framework that existed during former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s administration, when he served in the same capacity.
He identified multiple systemic weaknesses plaguing the LDEA’s operations, particularly highlighting the concerning reliance on untrained volunteers. “During the Sirleaf administration, we had a proper system in place,” he stated. “Today’s system is severely compromised, largely due to our critical shortage of qualified personnel.” The deputy director revealed that over half of the agency’s current workforce consists of volunteers who lack proper training in drug enforcement, creating significant operational challenges.
The senior drug enforcement official outlined several key issues undermining Liberia’s fight against narcotics. The LDEA faces severe staffing shortages, with many personnel lacking specialized training in drug law enforcement. This has forced the agency to depend heavily on volunteers who often lack proper qualifications. Forkpa acknowledged inheriting longstanding problems within the agency but emphasized that current leadership is implementing vetting and training programs to professionalize the volunteer corps.
He identified Liberia’s porous borders and leadership gaps as major contributors to the influx of illegal drugs, despite government efforts to strengthen enforcement.
The agency continues to struggle with inadequate resources and equipment necessary for effective drug interdiction operations.
In a particularly explosive revelation, Forkpa alleged widespread drug trade involvement across all branches of government – executive, legislative, and judicial. While not naming specific individuals, he characterized drug trafficking as “a lucrative business” that has corrupted officials at various levels. “When you’re fighting drugs in Liberia, you’re fighting powerful networks that extend throughout government,” he warned, noting that this official complicity endangers frontline anti-drug operatives.
The deputy director called for a comprehensive, community-based approach to combat the crisis, urging citizens to actively report drug activity in their neighborhoods. He cautioned, however, that whistleblowers must provide credible information and exercise discretion, as drug traffickers pose serious dangers. The LDEA will pursue legal action against those making false accusations, he added.
These revelations come amid growing public concern about Liberia’s drug epidemic, highlighted by a major anti-drug protest on August 7, 2025. Recent statistics suggest the crisis: 20% of Liberian youth reportedly use narcotics, while LDEA seizures in 2024-2025 totaled 9,651 kg of illegal substances valued at $4.9 million. The synthetic drug Kush accounted for more than half of these confiscations (5,494 kg worth $2.3 million), indicating its dominant position in Liberia’s illicit drug market.
