The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), River Gee County detachment, has arrested two suspected drug traffickers and seized narcotics valued at more than L$144,000 in one of the county’s most significant anti-drug operations this year.
The operation comes as the Joseph N. Boakai administration intensifies its nationwide campaign to combat substance abuse and dismantle illicit drug networks across Liberia.
The three-day intelligence-led operation, conducted between May 8 and May 10, 2026, was led by River Gee County Commander, Special Agent Bill M. Cooper Jr.
According to the LDEA, the coordinated raids targeted known drug distribution points in Fish Town and Tienpo Nyonken following weeks of intelligence gathering and community information.
Commander Cooper said the operation reflects policy directives from Monrovia aimed at strengthening county-level enforcement and restoring public confidence in the state’s ability to protect communities from the social and health impacts of drug trafficking.
In Fish Town, officers arrested 34-year-old Emmanuel Blawon after discovering 20 scripts of Tramadol in his possession. Tramadol, an opioid painkiller increasingly abused by young people in Liberia, has raised national concern due to its addictive nature and links to violent behavior. The LDEA estimated the street value of the seized drugs at approximately L$140,000.
In a separate operation in Tienpo Nyonken, officers arrested 20-year-old Fred S. Barwee, who was found with a cache including kush, 15 wraps of marijuana, and one pill of Tramadol. Authorities valued the seized substances at L$4,200.
Combined, the total estimated street value of the narcotics seized during the weekend operations stands at L$144,200.
Both suspects are currently detained at the Fish Town City Magisterial Court and are expected to be prosecuted under Liberia’s drug control laws. If convicted, they face significant prison sentences and fines.
Speaking following the arrests, Commander Cooper linked the success of the operation to renewed political will under the Boakai administration.
“Since this administration took office, the directive has been clear: no space for drug dealers in Liberia,” Cooper said. “We are seeing better coordination between headquarters and the counties, improved logistics, and stronger community engagement. That is why we are getting results.”
The Boakai administration has made the fight against narcotics a central pillar of its national security and public health agenda. Earlier this year, the government announced increased budgetary support for the LDEA, strengthened rehabilitation partnerships with the Ministry of Health, and launched public awareness campaigns targeting schools and youth groups.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General Cllr. Oswald Tweh has repeatedly described drug trafficking as a threat to national stability, warning that the spread of Tramadol and synthetic substances like kush is undermining education, public safety, and economic productivity.
Commander Cooper stressed that law enforcement alone cannot solve the drug crisis and called for stronger community involvement.
“The fight against drugs is a fight for our children’s future,” he said. “We need parents, teachers, religious leaders, and traditional authorities to work with us. When communities speak up, traffickers lose their cover.”
The LDEA confirmed that intelligence-led operations will continue across River Gee and neighboring counties, adding that surveillance at border entry points is also being strengthened to curb cross-border trafficking of illicit substances.
The arrests highlight a broader national challenge, as health officials and civil society groups continue to warn that the increasing availability of cheap and potent drugs is fueling addiction among young people in Liberia.
In 2025, the Ministry of Health reported a 22 percent increase in drug-related admissions at psychiatric and rehabilitation centers in Montserrado, Margibi, and Nimba Counties.
Analysts say the Boakai administration’s approach—combining enforcement, prevention, and rehabilitation—represents a shift from previous strategies that relied mainly on punitive measures.
For now, the LDEA in River Gee maintains that its message is clear: the illegal drug trade is no longer safe in the county.
“We will pursue, we will arrest, and we will prosecute,” Commander Cooper stated. “Our communities deserve to be safe, and our youth deserve a future free from drugs.”
The case has been forwarded to the Fish Town City Magisterial Court for further legal proceedings.
