The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has recovered nearly five megawatts (MW) of stolen electricity in less than two weeks, as its sweeping crackdown on power theft intensifies nationwide. The campaign, codenamed Operation Sweep, launched on February 12, has already led to 251 arrests, with offenders facing recovery fees or detention.
Philip Kamara Faley, LEC’s Head of Media, Communications, and Public Affairs, said the initiative targets the recovery of 10MW overall—a measure he described as vital to stabilizing Liberia’s fragile power grid and protecting paying customers. “This operation is about justice and sustainability,” Faley noted. “Every kilowatt stolen undermines the system and punishes honest consumers.”
Enforcement teams, operating under strict supervision, have mounted round-the-clock raids. By day, they comb residential and commercial neighborhoods; at night, they focus on high-consumption businesses. Targets include entertainment venues, frozen food suppliers, water production plants, hotels, casinos, and residences flagged for suspiciously high usage.
Faley stressed that no offender—whether household or business—will escape penalties. He urged citizens to report illegal connections through LEC’s hotline (4600), underscoring that public cooperation is essential to safeguarding national infrastructure.
Electricity theft has long plagued Liberia’s energy sector, draining resources and limiting supply. LEC estimates that losses from illegal connections have severely strained its ability to expand reliable service. The corporation hopes Operation Sweep will mark a turning point, both in recovering stolen power and deterring future theft.
Authorities expect further arrests and recoveries in the coming weeks as enforcement continues. Faley emphasized that the crackdown is not only punitive but corrective, designed to restore fairness in electricity distribution. “We are reclaiming what belongs to the people,” he said.
Reaction among consumers has been mixed. While many welcome the campaign as overdue, others worry about the scale of arrests and the burden of recovery fees. Analysts note that sustained enforcement, coupled with public education, will be key to ensuring long-term success.
For now, Operation Sweep signals a new era of accountability in Liberia’s power sector—one where stolen electricity is no longer tolerated, and the grid’s stability is treated as a matter of national priority.
