By: Gabriel M. C. Parker
BOMI – The Bomi Detachment of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has voiced serious concerns over the lack of transportation, calling it a major hindrance to its operations in the county.
The concern was raised during a program marking the official observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking—commonly known as Global Drug Day—held in Tubmanburg.
Speaking to journalists, the Deputy County Commander for Operations at the LDEA Bomi Detachment, Jefferson Koijee, emphasized that the absence of logistical support, especially mobility, is severely impacting their ability to respond to drug-related incidents.
Commander Koijee explained that the agency in Bomi lacks critical transportation assets such as vehicles and motorbikes, making it extremely difficult to act on community tip-offs and conduct timely arrests.
“Drug trafficking and abuse remain serious threats in the county, particularly in hard-to-reach areas where dealers and users often operate unchecked due to the limited presence of law enforcement,” he said.
“Many of the mining sites across Bomi County have turned into hubs for drug activities,” Koijee added. “But getting to those places has become a major challenge due to the lack of transportation.”
According to him, the LDEA’s ability to patrol and monitor key hotspots is severely restricted, often resulting in delayed responses—or no intervention at all—in drug-related cases.
Koijee also revealed that officers are frequently forced to hire commercial motorcycles, known locally as “pen-pen,” at their own expense to respond to emergencies or carry out arrests.
“This situation is not only frustrating but also dangerous for our officers,” he noted. “It slows our response time and compromises our operational effectiveness.”
He explained that reliance on commercial transport limits the agency’s reach and discourages timely intervention, particularly in rural or forested areas where drug traffickers often operate.
Commander Koijee used the occasion to appeal to the national government, local authorities, and international partners to prioritize logistical support for the LDEA in Bomi and across Liberia, especially in the provision of vehicles and motorbikes.
He stressed that without adequate mobility, efforts to curb the rising tide of drug abuse and trafficking in the county will continue to be undermined.
Despite the challenges, he commended local residents for their cooperation in reporting suspected drug activities and assured them of the agency’s ongoing commitment to combat the problem.
The deputy commander concluded by calling for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders to ensure a drug-free society and a safer Bomi County.
