MONROVIA – FrontPageAfrica has reliably learnt that Stephen Daniels, a major suspect in the recent drug bust at the Roberts International Airport has fled the country.
By Lennart Dodoo, [email protected]
Daniels was arrested by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) almost two weeks ago when it was discovered that his name was on the air waybill of the boxes that contained the drug as the consignee.
FrontPageAfrica gathered that he left the country last Thursday on an Asky flight. It remains unclear how he passed through security at the airport.
Daniels, along with Director of Security at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Samuel Livingstone Freeman along with an employee of Jos Travels – Kenya Airways agent in Liberia were named as major suspects in the bust.
Stephen S. Daniels has been an employee of the Ministry of Post & Telecommunications as a dispatcher. He also runs a private company, Afri Express Global Inc. as the Chief Executive Officer.
The suspended Director of Security at Roberts International Airport, Samuel Freeman, and the Cargo Officer at Jos Travel, Sam Siryon (who is not the NSA Deputy Director), were said to be his accomplices.
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.
Meanwhile, Daniels was again implicated in another confiscated boxes of narcotics that came through the Roberts International Airport.
Agent Edmond B. Reed, Officer-In-Charge of Customs Investigations, remarked during the handover of the drug consignment to LDEA that, “This marks the second shipment of Organic Stevia Green Tea Leaf, which the LDEA has confirmed to contain Methamphetamine.”
The illicit drugs were transported into the country via Kenya Airways flight (KQ 508) on September 11, 2023. They were uncovered during a routine inspection of cargo within the RIA Cargo warehouse.
