By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – A leaked audio allegedly featuring the voice of Abraham Okai Payne, widely known as “704,” Chief of Operations of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), went viral on Sunday, August 25, 2025, generating a storm of public debate over his conduct and credibility within the agency.
In the recording, a man believed to be Payne is heard angrily ordering junior officers of the LDEA to release a young woman who identified herself as Sarafina Barroy. She was reportedly arrested in Careybury outside Montserrado County. According to LDEA officers, Barroy had been caught in a ghetto in the company of suspected drug users. During the heated exchanges between Payne and the arresting officers, her name was disclosed, further fueling speculation about her identity. The audio captures the man, in an authoritative and commanding tone, instructing officers to free her immediately after she claimed she had been assaulted during the arrest.
The viral audio drew sharp attention on social media, particularly Facebook, where many questioned whether a senior law enforcement official had interfered in due process. Given the circulation of the recording, journalist Nyantee Genero Samuel Togba reached out to the LDEA Communications Office and was provided with Payne’s direct contact for comment.
According to Togba, Payne initially appeared uneasy upon learning that he was being contacted for his side of the story. He promised to call back but delayed, later returning the call only to blame network issues for repeated interruptions. Eventually, Payne offered his version of events, strongly denying the allegations.
“The voice in that recording is not mine,” Payne insisted. “It is an AI-generated audio being used to tarnish my reputation.”
He explained that the incident in question dated back to March, when he was contacted by the family of a detained girl who claimed their daughter was innocent. Payne said he then called a local LDEA commander, who confirmed the girl was not arrested with drugs but had merely been found “lying naked in a ghetto.” He stressed that the girl was not his daughter and clarified that both of his daughters are adults currently enrolled in college.
When pressed about the similarities between his explanation and the details in the viral audio, Payne’s defense faltered. He claimed the recording was in “slow motion” and could not be his voice. Journalist Togba informed him that further investigation would be conducted to verify the authenticity of the audio but assured that his initial denial would be published.
This is not the first time Payne has been embroiled in controversy. Under the previous administration, he was investigated by the Liberia National Police (LNP) for alleged misconduct during raids, including looting and other questionable practices. A Ministry of Justice inquiry led to his dismissal, along with others implicated. However, during Abraham Kromah’s tenure as LDEA Director-General, Payne was reinstated and given major responsibilities.
Subsequent leadership changes, including the brief stint of Christopher Peters as Officer-in-Charge, did not reopen his case. When the current Director-General, Anthony Souh, assumed office, he likewise chose not to revisit Payne’s past controversies, citing a positive working relationship.
Still, concerns persist within the LDEA. Several personnel allege that Payne continues to be involved in clandestine activities, while critics accuse Director-General Souh of being passive in tackling systemic issues at the agency.
For now, Payne maintains that the viral recording is fake and denies any wrongdoing. Yet, with his checkered past, the mention of Sarafina Barroy in the leaked audio, and the weight of these new allegations, questions continue to loom over his role and credibility within Liberia’s top anti-drug enforcement body.
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