Gbarnga, Bong – The Intelligence Officer of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Darwolo Melen otherwise known as Darius Melen, is at the center of major controversy after a Nigerian national, Henry Cheigwu, claimed that the LDEA officer withdrew over L$400,000 from his mobile money account following a raid on her premises.
During the raid, which was carried out in April this year, the LDEA reported that they had raided Cheigwu of drugs in the value of over L$7 million.
Cheigwu, who denied of being a drug dealer, claimed that the alarm raised by LDEA was intended to raid his business.
The Nigerian businessman claimed that the LDEA officers allegedly stole over US$50,000 in phones and other accessories from his business center.
An investigation conducted by FrontPageAfrica revealed that Melen transferred over L$300,000 from Cheigwu’s mobile money account to five different accounts for further withdrawal.
According to the mobile money history of transaction between Cheigwu’s number and Melen’s number, the sum of L$340,000 was transferred from Cheigwu’s number to Melen via four separate MTN numbers.
On April 16, 2019, Melen transferred L$15,000 from Cheigwu’s account to his account. Three days later, Melen transferred another L$15,000 from the same account to his mobile money account: 0886804078.
On April 26, 2019, Melen again transferred L$36,000 from Cheigwu’s account to his number. Five days later, Melen transferred another L$26,000 from Cheigwu’s account to his number.
On April 16 & 20, 2019, Melen transferred L$16,000 to Musu Flomo’s mobile money number 0881433847 from Cheigwu’s account. The latter, during a FrontPageAfrica inquiry, confirmed that she received L$26,000 but the money was later withdrawn by Melen.
Three days later, according to MTN mobile account history, he again transferred L$15,000 to the same account from Cheigwu’s mobile money account.
On May 2, 2019, Melen transferred L$25,000 to one Esther Sackie on cell number 0880924940 from Cheigwu’s mobile money account.
Darwolo under LDEA Probe
The Joint Security Investigators in Bong County last month recommended to the LDEA the transfer of Darwolo Melen, Alex Toweh, LDEA’S Bong County commander and LDEA’S Operations Officer, Prince Boimah following an investigation or negligence of a case reported by one Teddy Glegneir, an officer assigned at the Camp Tubman Military Barracks in Gbarnga, Bong County.
The three LDEA officers, according to Jeffery Garpeh, Superintendent of the Joint Security Investigators in Bong County, were caught in an act of criminally facilitating one Josephine Nelson of Kakata, Margibi County with a bag of marijuana valued at L$60,000. According to Garpeh, during the process of cross examination, Josephine was ordered to escape by Melen to an unknown destination to avoid her from being investigated by Police.
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