By Frank Wonders Payne Jr. / Buchanan, Grand Bassa County
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency arrested 61-year-old taxi driver Michael Wallace on Wednesday after officers found large quantities of cocaine and marijuana in his vehicle, authorities said.
The seizure occurred at the Owens Grove checkpoint at 5:19 p.m. on Nov. 26, following a tip-off, LDEA Special Agent Frederick Theo, commander of the agency in Grand Bassa County, said.
A search of Wallace’s taxi, registered TX 11686, turned up one kilogram of cocaine, valued at $54,000, and 19 compressed parcels of marijuana weighing a combined 12.7 kilograms, valued at $1,270. The combined street value of the drugs is $55,270 (about LRD 10,501,300).
Theo confirmed Wallace’s arrest and said he will be charged and forwarded to court. Wallace remains in custody pending the LDEA’s preliminary investigation.
During questioning, Wallace told investigators he did not know the package contained drugs. He said an unidentified man at ELWA Junction in Monrovia handed him a sealed carton he was told contained eggs to be delivered to Buchanan and that he was instructed to wait for a phone call upon arrival. Wallace said he did not inspect the carton.
A familiar figure in Buchanan’s transport sector, Wallace expressed remorse and pleaded for forgiveness, according to authorities. The LDEA has not released further details about possible suspects or the origin of the shipment.
