Monrovia – Liberia’s intensifying war against illicit drugs erupted into a major political scandal on Monday after a staffer assigned to Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung was arrested for allegedly attempting to bribe Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) officers to free a detained drug suspect.
By Willie N. Tokpah
The suspect, Clifford Payne, reportedly working under the Office of the Vice President, was arrested in the St. Paul Bridge Community on November 24 after he allegedly tried offering cash to LDEA officers to secure the release of the drug offender.
LDEA sources told FrontPageAfrica that Payne was immediately apprehended and transported in a national security pickup. It was during the arrest and verification process that he disclosed his attachment to the Vice President’s office.
The incident has fueled public outrage and reignited long-standing complaints from LDEA officers that their work is routinely obstructed by “individuals with powerful connections,” undermining accountability in Liberia’s escalating drug crisis.
Koung Distances Himself — Critics Say It’s Not Enough
In a sharply worded statement, Vice President Koung moved to distance himself from Payne, emphasizing that he will not protect anyone linked to him who interferes in drug enforcement.
“Let me state this with absolute clarity,” Koung warned. “Anyone connected to me, by whatsoever means, who engages in drug-related activities will face the full weight of the law — even if it is my wife, my children, my siblings, or anyone linked to my office.”
But the statement has not eased public concern.
Critics argue that the scandal exposes weaknesses in internal oversight and raises questions about the culture within the Office of the Vice President. Others say Payne’s alleged attempt reflects a sense of entitlement among people close to political power.
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