-Amid Allegations of Vehicle Gift from Drug Trafficker
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Deputy Commissioner for Operations Fitzgerald T.M. Biago has formally requested to temporarily step aside as Officer-in-Charge pending an investigation into allegations that he received a Toyota pickup truck from an individual linked to the US$317 million drug-trafficking network.
In a letter addressed to Minister of Justice and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh on August 8, 2026, Biago vehemently denied the allegation, stating that he neither solicited nor knowingly accepted any gift, benefit, or inducement from any person associated with illegal narcotics operations.
“I categorically deny this allegation,” Biago wrote. “I have neither solicited nor knowingly accepted any gift, benefit, or inducement from a drug trafficker or anyone acting on behalf of a drug-trafficking organization.”
Despite his denial, the senior law enforcement official emphasized that temporary recusal was necessary to preserve the independence of the investigation, protect the LDEA’s institutional reputation, and maintain public confidence in the agency’s anti-narcotics efforts.
“This request is not an admission of wrongdoing, but an act of institutional responsibility intended to avoid any actual or perceived conflict of interest,” Biago added.
The LDEA, which operates from its headquarters on 21st Street in Fiamah, Sinkor, has been at the forefront of Liberia’s battle against illicit drug trafficking—a crisis that continues to strain communities and security institutions across the country.
Biago has pledged full cooperation with investigators and has offered to provide all relevant documentation and information lawfully requested. He has also called for the timely designation of an acting official to oversee the agency’s operations during his recusal and urged that the investigation be conducted fairly, impartially, and transparently.
