Published: July 23, 2025
Monrovia — The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency is reeling from the brutal mob killing of one of its officers, Emmanuel Payne, who was attacked and beaten to death Tuesday night in Caldwell while attempting to arrest a suspected drug trafficker.
Authorities say Officer Payne, though off duty, intercepted a man carrying a suspicious black plastic bag near a known drug den. The suspect—later identified as Franklin B. Feawoe, alias “Black Bottle”—allegedly incited a violent crowd to attack the officer after resisting arrest.
Payne, assigned to the LDEA’s New Kru Town Detail, was visiting a colleague from the Liberia Immigration Service when he noticed Feawoe heading toward the ghetto. Despite being in uniform and firing two warning shots, Payne was overpowered by the mob, falsely accused of being a motorbike thief, and savagely beaten. He was pronounced dead on arrival at John F. Kennedy Medical Center.
Calling the act “heinous and cowardly,” the LDEA has vowed justice. In joint operations with the Liberia National Police and other security agencies, several ghettos in Caldwell have been raided and burned down, with multiple arrests made.
Feawoe, described as a notorious drug kingpin, remains at large. The LDEA is urging the public to report any information about his whereabouts by calling 0777-133-333 and warned that he is dangerous. Citizens are advised not to approach him.
“Our hearts are heavy,” the agency said in a statement. “His bravery, integrity, and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Officer Payne is remembered by colleagues as a fearless and dedicated enforcer who risked his life daily to confront Liberia’s growing drug crisis.
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