Published: August 7, 2025
MONROVIA – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested four men, including an artist known for anti-drug advocacy, in what officials describe as the first documented attempt to smuggle Methcathinone, a powerful synthetic stimulant, into the country.
The arrest took place around 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, at the Bo Waterside Port of Entry in Grand Cape Mount County. During a routine vehicle inspection, agents intercepted a blue Nissan Primera with license plate A120421 and discovered 844 grams of Methcathinone concealed inside the vehicle’s rear door. The drug’s estimated street value is $8,440 in U.S. dollars, equivalent to about 1.7 million Liberian dollars.
“This marks the first known attempt to introduce Methcathinone into the Liberian market,” the LDEA said in a statement issued Wednesday. “Thanks to the swift action of our Cape Mount team, this dangerous substance was intercepted before reaching our communities.”
Authorities identified the suspects as 36-year-old Eariel Xavises Aweti and 28-year-old Samuel R. Grey, both citizens of Sierra Leone; 35-year-old Alonso Yeah, a Liberian national based in Sierra Leone; and 25-year-old Matthew Sherman, a Liberian resident of the VOA Community outside Monrovia.
The arrest of Yeah, who is known across parts of the region as a visual artist and drug-awareness campaigner, has raised eyebrows among civil society groups. His past involvement in community-based prevention campaigns has left many questioning the circumstances of his alleged role in the attempted trafficking.
“This is troubling,” said a Monrovia-based anti-drug advocate who requested anonymity. “If someone who has been a voice against drugs is now accused of trafficking them, it speaks to a deeper crisis.”
All four men have been turned over to authorities for further investigation and are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days.
The LDEA reaffirmed its commitment to shielding Liberia from the growing influence of illegal narcotics and pledged continued vigilance at border points and within communities.
“We remain firm in our mission to protect Liberia’s borders and communities from the scourge of illegal narcotics,” the agency stated.
Methcathinone, also known as “cat,” is a highly addictive stimulant chemically similar to methamphetamine. It poses severe risks to users’ mental and physical health, including paranoia, hallucinations, aggression and long-term cognitive impairment. Its discovery at a Liberian port of entry could signal a dangerous shift in the regional drug trade, with Liberia now at risk of becoming both a transit point and consumer market for synthetic narcotics.
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