By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has released its monthly report for September 2024, revealing a staggering total of US $1,062,867.57 (approximately L$201,944,838.30) in drug seizures across the country.
The report indicates that Montserrado County accounted for an overwhelming 98% of the total drug seizures, while Grand Cape Mount County contributed the remaining 2%. Undoubtedly, this stark contrast emphasizes the concentration of drug-related activities in the capital region, where law enforcement efforts are increasingly focused.
In terms of drug types, cocaine emerged as the most prevalent substance, comprising 80% of the total seizures. Other drugs included Kush, which accounted for 17%, and marijuana, making up 2% of the seized quantities.
The LDEA’s report also detailed the demographics of individuals arrested in connection with drug offenses during September. A total of 40 suspects were apprehended, including 30 Liberians—25 males and 5 females. Additionally, 4 Nigerians (all male), 4 Sierra Leoneans (all female), and 2 Guineans (both male) were among those detained. The overall breakdown shows 31 males and 9 females involved in drug-related activities.
Ongoing Efforts and Challenges
Meanwhile, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA),profoundly has hailed the 5th Judicial Circuit Court’s conviction and sentencing of four drug dealers in Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia. The four convicts, three Liberian nationals, Abu S. Kamara, 42, Daniel David, 25, and Tina Morris, 30, including a Nigerian national Tony Okeye, 58, were separately arrested and charged by the LDEA Grand Cape Mount County Detachment for possession, sale, distribution and transportation of narcotic substances, including KUSH, HEROIN and COMPRESSED MARIJUANA or CANNABIS SATIVA.
Firstly, Tina was arrested in Kinjor, Gola Konneh District, Grand Cape Mount County, on June 12, 2024, for being in possession of one-and-a-half-compressed plates of marijuana or cannabis sativa including 343 wraps of marijuana valued at L$55, 860.00 or US$294.00. Later, Abu and Daniel were both found to have 43 and 277 wraps of Fentanyl also known locally as “KUSH”, in the Lofa Bridge and Gold Camp communities, on July 8 and 9, 2024, which are jointly valued at L$329, 650 or US$1,735, while the arrest of Tony was made on July 29, 2024, during the morning hours in Weajue, Gola Konneh District, Grand Cape Mount County, after he was found to have two plates of marijuana or cannabis sativa and a substance believed to be heroin drug valued at L$58, 500.00 or US$300.
According to the LDEA charge sheet, the convicts were found to have violated sections 14.89 and 14.85 of the 2023 amended drug law, including sections 10.4 and 10.2 of the penal code of laws of Liberia, for which they were all subsequently forwarded to court and placed on trial at the Grand Cape Mount County Magisterial Court.
According to the LDEA Officer-in-Charge (OiC), Mr. Christopher Peters, who after taking over in June 2024, when these arrests were made, “Today we celebrate a little win for the agency, LDEA, and we are now moving forward to rally communities to jointly work together with our team to raid the country of this dangerous drug that is causing havoc for our young people!” The LDEA OiC pleads with the public to report unwanted acts of drug possessors, dealers, and peddlers, even when it involves members of his team.
Relative to reporting such acts involving members of the LDEA, the OiC shares “there has been an arrest of two LDEA officers, Agent Roland Hne, assigned in River Gee County, and Volunteer Agent Abel Cranshaw, assigned in Maryland County, who were both found in possession of 14.2 grams of KUSH in KillepoKanweiken, River Gee County, valued at US$ 284 or L$53, 960.” They are now being investigated and if found guilty of the act, both men will be forwarded to court for trial.
Meanwhile, the LDEA has with immediate effect suspended indefinitely two Volunteer Agents, Abraham Goffa and Varney Jusu, consistent with category ‘D’, Dot 17 of the LDEA code of conduct, which on September 17, 2024, they were involved with several raids the agency carried out in Monrovia. During these raids, both men were accused of taking the personal belongings of two individuals, and on September 18, 2024, both accused men were investigated by the agency’s Board of Internal Inquiry and Professional Standards (BIIPS), and the findings proved they were both liable for the accusations brought against them.
LDEA leadership says it has immediately turned over these personal belongings which were later taken from the accused men to their rightful owners and has ordered volunteer agents Gofa and Jusu to turn over all LDEA properties in their possession and to cease from performing all services they once performed for the LDEA.
At the same time, the LDEA has issued a written reprimand to volunteer agent Faith N. Toe, for failing to adhere to road safety measures, consistent with Category A, Dot 1 and 8 of the agency code of conduct, which on September 9, 2024, she was seen captured in a video clip that circulated social media showing riding on a commercial motorcycle without helmet in violation of the current road safety and traffic measures being enforced by the Liberia National Police (LNP). Agent Toe was similarly investigated by the agency’s BIIPS, and the findings show her admitting guilt for which she expressed remorse for her conduct.
