Published: June 2, 2026
MONROVIA — Liberia’s Drug Enforcement Agency arrested 233 suspects, seized more than 422 kilograms of narcotics and confiscated approximately $1.337 million in cash believed linked to transnational trafficking networks during the first three months of 2026, the agency’s acting chief said Tuesday, describing the results as evidence of a sharpened national response to the country’s escalating drug crisis.
Presenting the agency’s First Quarter Report, Officer-in-Charge Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitzgerald T.M. Biago told development partners, government officials, media representatives and civil society groups that the LDEA had recorded enforcement gains, launched internal accountability measures and expanded public prevention campaigns, even as he acknowledged that significant operational challenges remain.
“We continue to strengthen enforcement, prevention and institutional reforms across the country,” Biago said.
Of the 233 suspects arrested between January and March, 193 were men and 40 were women. The nationality breakdown reflected the transnational character of Liberia’s drug problem: 195 Liberians, 17 Nigerians, 12 Sierra Leoneans and nine Guineans. All suspects were investigated and forwarded to court for prosecution, Biago said.
The 422.08 kilograms of narcotics seized during the quarter included 248.56 kilograms of marijuana, 115.66 kilograms of Kush, the synthetic drug increasingly blamed for devastating communities across West Africa, 57.30 kilograms of Tramadol and 0.56 kilograms of cocaine. Authorities estimated the street value of the seized substances at more than $433,950 and over LD$103 million on the local market.
The quarter’s most significant single operation took place at the Bo-Waterside border crossing in Grand Cape Mount County, where investigators confiscated the $1.337 million in cash believed connected to drug trafficking and money laundering networks exploiting Liberia’s porous regional borders.
A Sharp Drop in Seizure Volumes
The most striking figure in the report was not what was seized but how much less was seized compared with the previous quarter. Drug seizures fell from 5,186.17 kilograms in the final quarter of 2025 to 422.08 kilograms in the first quarter of 2026, a decline of 91.86%.
The agency attributed the drop to sustained enforcement pressure that has disrupted established supply chains and made it harder for traffickers to operate. It cautioned, however, against reading the reduction as evidence that the trafficking problem has been resolved.
Security analysts note that seizure figures do not always capture the full picture of drug activity but can indicate shifts in trafficking patterns and enforcement effectiveness.
Accountability Measures and Internal Reform
Alongside the enforcement results, Biago disclosed that officers accused of misconduct and evidence tampering are under active investigation, a rare public acknowledgment of internal accountability pressures within the agency. He described the LDEA’s stance as one of zero tolerance toward corruption and unethical conduct.
As part of broader institutional reforms, 110 action agents were vetted and enrolled at the Liberia National Police Academy for formal recruit training, while 30 senior personnel began leadership and management development programs. The agency also introduced mandatory random drug testing for its own officers, established a vehicle tracking and risk management system, improved evidence management procedures and developed standardized operational guidelines. Plans are also underway to relocate and renovate the agency’s headquarters.
Prevention Reaches Over 2,500 Citizens
Recognizing that enforcement alone cannot reverse Liberia’s drug crisis, the LDEA expanded public education campaigns across schools, communities, churches, mosques, youth organizations and civil society groups during the quarter, reaching more than 2,500 citizens and students with anti-drug awareness messages.
Biago said the outreach is designed to reduce demand, encourage community participation and educate young people about the consequences of drug abuse, forming part of a broader strategy that pairs law enforcement with public health and community-based interventions.
Challenges Remain
Despite the reported gains, Biago was candid about the obstacles facing the agency. Inadequate logistics, limited surveillance technology and increasingly sophisticated trafficking methods employed by organized criminal networks continue to hinder operations. The LDEA is seeking sustained support from government, international partners and civil society to strengthen its capacity.
“The fight against drugs is not the responsibility of the LDEA alone. It is a shared national responsibility,” he said.
The Boakai administration has positioned the fight against narcotics as a national security and public health priority, with the LDEA serving as the lead enforcement body. Tuesday’s report suggested the agency is attempting to balance aggressive law enforcement with internal reform and community engagement at a moment when the social and economic toll of drug abuse on Liberian communities continues to grow.
Biago closed with an appeal for continued collaboration across institutions, communities and international partners.
“Together,” he said, “we will continue to build a safer, stronger and drug-free Liberia.”
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