Monrovia – Days after the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency announced what it described as one of the country’s largest cocaine seizures, valued at approximately US$19 million, pressure is mounting on the agency to disclose the identities of those linked to the massive drug bust.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected] and Augustus D. R. Bortue, [email protected]
The agency’s reluctance to release the names of suspects has fueled public skepticism and sparked debate about transparency, fairness, and accountability in Liberia’s fight against narcotics trafficking.
Among those questioning the agency’s handling of the case is Liberian musician Karwoudou Cole, popularly known as Bucky Raw, who drew comparisons between the treatment of ordinary drug suspects and the current investigation.
“I know I was embarrassed for $40 worth of weed. Now they got $19 million worth of coke but no one to be found,” Cole wrote on social media. “My business went down, and I took a huge loss. To me, the raid was for the LDEA to steal my money and other things. I was forced to take pictures with a large amount of drugs at the district, but I refused. I don’t believe anything LDEA posts or says.”
His comments have resonated with many Liberians who argue that the LDEA has historically moved quickly to publicize the names and photographs of individuals arrested with relatively small quantities of narcotics, while remaining silent in a case involving one of the country’s largest cocaine seizures.
The issue has also drawn the attention of lawmakers.
During Thursday’s sitting, the House of Representatives summoned LDEA officials to provide lawmakers with a comprehensive report on the agency’s operations and efforts to combat drug trafficking.
Bong County District #6 Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah was among those pressing for greater accountability.
“As part of our oversight responsibility, it is important that the leadership of the LDEA provide a comprehensive report on the progress made by the Agency, the impact of support received over the years, the challenges confronting its operations, and measures being implemented to prevent Liberia from becoming a major transit route for narcotics,” Rep. Briggs-Mensah said.
‘Give us more time.’
Responding to the criticism, LDEA Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitzgerald T.M. Biago, defended the agency’s decision to withhold the identities of suspects, stressing that investigators are dealing with a complex transnational organized crime operation.
“In this era where technology supports criminal investigation, please also be informed that this is not a regular criminal investigation,” Biago told lawmakers. “It is a transnational organized crime that has layers, contacts, surrogates, and elements. Even a country with much more sophistication requests time to investigate such organized crime.”
He added: “All we are asking is for time to put our pieces together and make an informed determination.”
According to Biago, prematurely releasing information could compromise the investigation, undermine efforts to identify all actors involved, and potentially allow members of the criminal network to evade justice.
Despite those assurances, public skepticism continues to grow.
Critics argue that the agency’s current position appears inconsistent with its handling of previous drug cases, particularly those involving ordinary citizens accused of possessing much smaller quantities of narcotics. They contend that the differing approaches have fueled perceptions of selective transparency and raised broader questions about equal treatment under the law.
The controversy is especially sensitive because combating drug trafficking was a major campaign promise of the ruling Unity Party during the 2023 elections. At the time, party leaders sharply criticized the former Coalition for Democratic Change administration over what they described as its failure to effectively address the country’s worsening drug crisis.
Those pledges resonated with voters concerned about the growing prevalence of illicit drugs across Liberia. As a result, many citizens now view the government’s handling of the US$19 million cocaine seizure as a critical test of its commitment to those promises.
Several Liberians interviewed by FrontPage Africa expressed frustration over the decision to withhold the identities of suspects.
“If authorities could publicly identify people arrested with small amounts of marijuana in the past, then I do not understand why suspects connected to a shipment worth more than US$19 million should suddenly be granted anonymity,” said Emmanuel Johnson of Paynesville.
Martha Doe, a businesswoman in Monrovia, said the issue was not merely the absence of names but the apparent contradiction in the agency’s approach.
“We have all watched previous drug arrests where photographs and names were released almost immediately. Today, we are dealing with one of the largest cocaine seizures in Liberia’s history, yet suddenly everything is being kept secret. That inconsistency is what is fueling public distrust,” she said.
Youth advocate Abraham Karmo said citizens are looking to see whether the government’s anti-drug commitments will be applied equally.
“Liberians were promised that no one would be above the law. The government now has an opportunity to demonstrate that its commitment to fighting drugs is genuine and not merely political rhetoric,” he said.
Others warned that prolonged secrecy could further erode public confidence.
“Every day that passes without disclosure creates more room for speculation and rumors,” said community leader Sarah Wleh. “Public institutions must understand that secrecy often breeds suspicion.”
James Kollie of Monrovia added that while citizens appreciate the need for professional investigations, they also expect fairness and consistency.
“No one is asking investigators to reveal confidential evidence,” he said. “What citizens are asking for is equal treatment under the law.”
Despite the growing criticism, Biago maintained that investigators require additional time to complete their work.
Referencing a principle often cited in criminal investigations that every contact leaves a trace, he said the operation demonstrates Liberia’s determination to combat international drug trafficking.
“This operation sends an unequivocal message that Liberia is not a transit point, a marketplace, or a haven for drug traffickers or criminal networks,” Biago said. “The LDEA will continue to relentlessly pursue criminal networks, secure our borders, and protect our citizens from the devastating effects of illicit drugs.”
He also praised LDEA officers, joint security personnel, airport authorities, and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the June 8 operation.
As public calls for greater transparency intensify, the LDEA insists that its silence is not an attempt to shield suspects but a necessary step in an investigation that extends beyond Liberia’s borders. For many Liberians, however, the coming weeks will determine whether the agency can balance investigative caution with the public’s demand for accountability.
