Monrovia – The Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County appears to be a hotspot for the trafficking of illicit drugs and substances to Liberia evidenced by the latest seizure of a huge consignment of abandoned cocaine worth nearly US$1million by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
By Obediah Johnson [email protected]
Addressing a news conference in Monrovia on Thursday, September 12, the Officer-In-Charge of the LDEA, Christopher Peters, disclosed that agents assigned at the RIA spotted and took possession of a blue suitcase containing 15 parcels of suspicious substances.
He added that preliminary investigation conducted suggests that the substance was intended to be flown out of Liberia via the RIA.
“The seized substance results confirmed that the substance is high grade cocaine which weighs 16.65kilograms with a street value of US$915,750.”
No suspects
Peters, however, admitted that the LDEA failed to apprehend any suspect in connection with the confiscated cocaine.
According to him, the suitcase containing the cocaine was identified unaccompanied at the RIA parking lot.
He noted that an investigation into identifying the suspect (s) has been launched.
Peters vowed that all avenues and methods would be tracked and implored by the agency to arrest the suspect (s).
He, however, termed as “propaganda” reports in the media that the suspended Director General of the LDEA Abraham Kromah provided the intelligence which led to the seizure of the cocaine at the airport.
He claimed that the propaganda was intended to “undercut” the efforts being made by the current management of the agency and supports the negative perception of “great things can only be done by certain people.”
Peters emphasized that the latest seizure of the cocaine brings the total amount of drugs and illicit substances arrested and confiscated by the LDEA over the last 100 days at US$3,428,848.65.
He recalled that drugs and substances worth US$255,388 were arrested in June this year, while US$1.4million was also confiscated in July.
“In August, we seized drugs and substances which were valued at US$895, 685.”
Peters stated that 13 drug suspects were convicted across Liberia, with several other trials ongoing at the relevant courts in the counties.
According to him, the current administration has been striving to strengthen institutional capacities and building networks to enhance the workings of the agency.
He added that talks have been held with private rehabilitation centers, the Minister of Justice Oswald Tweh, the Chairpersons and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Substance Rehabilitation and Reintegration and the LDEA prevention office, including partners seeking to build and support the capacity of the LDEA.
Peters said new LDEA offices have also been established in areas that were heavily infested with drugs and substances, including Brewerville and Paynesville.
With the assistance of the LNP, he bragged that the agency was able to restore safety and sanctity in these communities, noting that, “LDEA will continue to work with the community members in this regard.”
He admitted to the huge tasks the agency has to perform in curbing the trafficking and sale of narcotics and other dangerous substances across Liberia.
Peters added that with the required support of everyone, especially the government and its partners, Liberia can win the war against drug abuse and trafficking.
“With the right support, reform, capacity and leadership, the agency can do exploits because it has men and women who are already making incredible efforts under difficult circumstances.”
RIA turning to hub
In July this year, the LDEA in collaboration with the Bureau of Customs at the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), confiscated two boxes of concealed tea leaf substances believed to be controlled narcotic drugs on July 24, 2024 at the RIA.
The boxes of concealed tea leaf substances arrived in the country by way of SN Brussels flight #: SN-245 on July 19, 2024 at about 5:00 PM. Upon testing conducted by the LDEA and UNODC on July 25, 2024, the substance contained in the two boxes were tested positive for Methamphetamine (KUSH).
The controlled narcotics seized weighed (10) kilograms with a street value of two hundred thousand United States dollars (USD 200,000.00) or Liberian Dollars thirty-eight million (LRD38, 000,000).
Several defendants including Raymond Kpehe (clearing agent of United Parcel Services), and Michael Brown (the consignee), all Liberian nationals, were arrested in connection with the Kush at the RIA.
They were arrested, investigated and charged for Importation, Transportation and Conspiracy, while Mohammed Nyallay, a Sierra Leonean national was also arrested, investigated and charged for accomplices to the importation of narcotics substance into Liberia, which is in violation of Sections 14.83 and 14.85 of the 2023 drug law as amended, as well as Sections 10.4 and 10.2 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
They have been forwarded to the Unification Town, Magisterial Court in Margibi County for prosecution.
Last year, the LDEA arrested one Stephen S. Daniels, an employee of the Ministry of Post & Telecommunications, in connection to the drugs that were being smuggled from the Roberts International Airport. Daniels was identified as the consignee who flew the drugs into Liberia via Kenya Airways on August 31.
The air waybill for the consignment in possession of FrontPageAfrica shows Daniels as the consignee and the consignment is described as “dry khat” – a form of drug.
Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, a stimulant that causes greater sociability, excitement, loss of appetite, and mild euphoria.
The consignment upon inspection by Customs in the presence of joint security on Monday was declared organic moringa tea and was turned over to the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for further testing.
The LDEA test discovered the presence of Methamphetamine or meth – a highly addictive drug.
Daniels was reported to be working with the Ministry of Post & Telecommunications as a dispatcher and ran a private company, Afri Express Global Inc. as the Chief Executive Officer at the time the arrest was made.
The suspended Director of Security at Roberts International Airport, Samuel Freeman, and the Cargo Officer at Jos Travel, Sam Saryon (who is not the NSA Deputy Director), have found themselves in the spotlight as prime suspects in a drug-related incident.
Both individuals are now sought after by the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency on charges of alleged drug trafficking.
Jos Travel, serves as the General Sales Agent for Kenya Airways and is responsible for ticket and cargo operations in Monrovia.
Freeman, who reportedly implicated the Chief of Protocol for the Republic of Liberia, Ms. Nora Finda Bondo, in connection with the drugs, discovered inside multiple boxes he attempted to smuggle from the tarmac through an unauthorized gate on Monday, vehemently denied the allegations regarding the contents of these boxes.
His denial followed a thorough inspection by Customs, in the presence of joint security forces, which revealed what appeared to be organic moringa tea, rather than drugs.
The blue suitcase containing the 15 parcels of cocaine worth US$915,750 would be “the same old one-week noise story” or a replica of the US$100M drug case in which all defendants were found not guilty by the government and fled the country thereafter.
For decades now, Liberia has been struggling to combat against the trafficking and sale of drugs and other dangerous substances in the country due to the reported involvement of “higher-ups” and the entrenched culture of impunity in the nation.
