Liberia’s anti-drug drive appears to be faltering as the country’s leadership of the Liberia National Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) undergoes its third leadership change in less than two years.
President Joseph Boakai has reshuffled top LDEA officials again, citing “unacceptable acts of disorder and chaos” and prompting the appointment of an interim management team to guide the agency through a period of intensified oversight.
The LDEA has long been at the center of fierce internal disputes, with rival factions within its hierarchy allegedly feuding and entangled in web of conspiracy and cover-ups.
In June 2024, a wave of dismissals removed Deputy Director for Operations Hassan Fadiga, Deputy for Administration Gbawou Kowou, and Director Abraham Kromah.
President Boakai described their conduct as destabilizing and harmful to public peace and the government’s fight against illicit drugs. An interim leadership under Christopher Peters was named but resigned due to what was described as a lack of support.
On August 28, 2024, President Boakai dismissed another set of top LDEA officials for administrative reasons and appointed another Interim Management Team to steer the agency.
The newly relieved officials were Director General Anthony K. Souh, Deputy Director General for Administration Gwee K. Porkpah, and Deputy Director General for Operations Sebastian Farr.
The interim team includes high-ranking officials from the security and intelligence communities: Officer-in-Charge DCP. Fitzgerald T. M. Biago of the Liberia National Police, Deputy for Administration/Investigation Ernest T. Tarpeh of the National Security Agency, and Deputy for Operations ACP. Patrick B. Kormazu of the LNP.
The President directed the Minister of Justice to conduct a comprehensive 90-day review of the LDEA’s structure, functions, and operations, with findings and recommendations to be submitted within the period.
He insisted that the interim team demonstrate professionalism, diligence, commitment, and integrity, emphasizing the need to redouble efforts to prevent the inflow of illicit drugs, disrupt trafficking networks, and dismantle distribution channels.
Liberia declared a National Health Emergency on January 31 to address the surge in drug abuse and its impact on Liberia’s youth. A national secretariat has been established to coordinate strategies against the epidemic, which officials warn threatens the country’s future, fuels crime, and destabilizes communities.
Liberia is part of a broader West African challenge with drug trafficking networks linked to a global supply chain. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime notes that significant quantities of cocaine from the Andean region transit West Africa, with trafficking networks distributing narcotics across Europe.
In 2022, Liberian authorities helped seize a major 520-kilogram shipment worth about $100 million at the Freeport of Monrovia, highlighting both Liberia’s strategic role and the scale of the problem.
As Liberia grapples with internal discord within the LDEA and mounting public health concerns, the administration says the interim leadership structure will allow for a renewed, professional approach to drug enforcement.
The effectiveness of this approach remains to be seen, as the agency seeks to regain public confidence and restore momentum in a campaign central to national security and the well-being of Liberia’s youth.
For residents and stakeholders, the ongoing leadership changes underscore the urgency of reform, accountability, and sustained investment in prevention, interdiction, and rehabilitation programs that can bend the curve on drug abuse and its damaging ripple effects across Liberian society.
