NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) says national efforts to combat illicit drugs are yielding significant results, reporting a sharp 91.86 percent reduction in drug proliferation during the first quarter of 2026 compared to the last quarter of 2025.
By: Kabina S. Kabah – kabinaskabah98@gmail.com
Presenting the agency’s First Quarter Report on Tuesday, Officer-in-Charge, DCP Fitzgerald T.M. Biago, disclosed that drug seizures fell from 5,186.17 kilograms in late 2025 to 422.08 kilograms between January and March 2026. He attributed the decline to intensified enforcement operations and increased pressure on traffickers.
“The reduction indicates that our enforcement strategies are disrupting drug supply chains and making it increasingly difficult for traffickers to operate,” Biago said.
During the reporting period, the LDEA arrested 233 suspects nationwide for alleged involvement in drug trafficking and narcotics-related offenses. The arrests included 193 males and 40 females. Of those detained, 195 were Liberians, 17 Nigerians, 12 Sierra Leoneans, and nine Guineans. Authorities confirmed that all suspects have been forwarded to court for prosecution.
The agency also reported the seizure of 422.08 kilograms of assorted narcotics, including 248.56 kilograms of marijuana, 115.66 kilograms of kush, 57.30 kilograms of tramadol, and 0.56 kilograms of cocaine. The confiscated drugs are estimated to have a street value exceeding US$433,950 and more than LD$103 million.
In one of the quarter’s most significant operations, LDEA officers intercepted approximately US$1.337 million at the Bo-Waterside border crossing in Grand Cape Mount County. The money is suspected to be linked to transnational drug trafficking networks operating across the Mano River region.
Officials described the seizure as a major breakthrough in efforts to dismantle organized criminal enterprises involved in cross-border narcotics trafficking.
Alongside enforcement gains, the agency also reported progress in institutional reforms aimed at strengthening professionalism and accountability. Biago revealed that officers accused of misconduct and evidence tampering are currently under investigation, reinforcing what he described as the agency’s “zero-tolerance policy” on corruption.
The LDEA further enrolled 110 Action Agents into formal recruit training at the Liberia National Police Academy and launched leadership training for 30 senior personnel. Mandatory random drug testing for staff has also been introduced as part of broader reform measures.
Other initiatives undertaken during the quarter include the establishment of a vehicle tracking and risk management system, improvements in evidence management procedures, and the development of standard operating procedures to enhance operational efficiency.
On the prevention front, the agency said it reached more than 2,500 citizens through anti-drug awareness campaigns conducted in schools, communities, churches, mosques, youth groups, and civil society organizations across the country.
Despite the reported gains, Biago acknowledged that significant challenges remain, including limited logistics, inadequate surveillance technology, and increasingly sophisticated trafficking methods used by criminal networks.
He called on the Government of Liberia, international partners, civil society organizations, and the public to strengthen support for the country’s anti-drug campaign.
“The fight against drugs is not the responsibility of the LDEA alone; it is a shared national responsibility,” Biago emphasized.
The report comes as the Liberian government continues to classify drug abuse and substance use disorder as a national security and public health emergency, with authorities intensifying efforts to curb the spread of narcotics and protect vulnerable communities across the country.
