Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has appointed Ms. Precious Rue as Deputy Director General for Operations of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), positioning the security veteran at the frontline of the Administration’s intensified offensive against narcotics trafficking.
Rue, whose appointment is pending Senate confirmation, will serve as the agency’s operational architect—tasked with leading enforcement actions, intelligence coordination, and tactical strikes against drug networks. He assumes duties immediately in an acting capacity alongside newly appointed Director General Major General (Retired) Daniel Dee Ziankahn, Jr. and Deputy Director General for Administration Prince Mulbah.
The appointment signals the President’s strategic emphasis on bolstering LDEA’s operational capacity at a critical moment. Rue’s background in security and enforcement is expected to bring renewed vigor to field operations, interagency coordination, and intelligence-led interventions.
Her role places her at the center of Liberia’s zero-tolerance policy toward drug trafficking, organized crime, and corruption—a policy that has gained urgency following recent high-profile cocaine seizures and international scrutiny over Liberia’s role as a transit point for illicit drugs.
Broader Leadership Overhaul
The appointments follow the submission of the Ministry of Justice’s investigative report to the President and form part of a broader strategy to strengthen Liberia’s institutional response to narcotics threats. Major General Ziankahn, a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces and Minister of National Defense, will oversee the agency while reporting directly to the President. Mulbah takes charge of administrative operations.
Mr. Ernest Tarpeh, who served as Deputy LDEA Director General, returns to his previous assignment at the National Security Agency.
In a related action, President Boakai indefinitely suspended former LDEA Officer in Charge Fitzgerald Biago from the Liberia National Police over ethical concerns identified in the Ministry of Justice’s report. While the report did not establish Biago’s involvement in drug trafficking, it flagged issues warranting further investigation.
Following a marathon National Security Council meeting, President Boakai emphasized that no public official would be exempt from accountability where integrity questions arise.
The President called on the new LDEA leadership—particularly Rue in his operations role—to work closely with the Joint Security, the Ministry of Justice, and international partners to dismantle trafficking networks, strengthen border security, and protect Liberia’s youth and communities.
“Our fight against drugs is a fight for the future of Liberia,” the President declared. “We will continue to strengthen our institutions, hold public officials to the highest ethical standards, and pursue those who seek to poison our communities. There will be no safe haven for drug traffickers or those who aid and abet them.”
