by E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
The House of Representatives has summoned the leadership of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency. hours after the agency stunned the nation by refusing to release the names of suspects in the country’s in a multi-million-dollar narcotics catch.
The move comes on the heels of the LDEA’s announcement that six individuals arrested in connection with the staggering US$19 million (L$3 billion) drug bust at Roberts International Airport will remain anonymous while investigations continue.
The decision has ignited a firestorm of outrage, with lawmakers demanding answers and citizens crying foul over what many see as a dangerous retreat from transparency.
At Thursday’s Ministry of Information press briefing, LDEA Acting Director General Fitzgerald Biago confirmed the suspects are in custody but insisted their identities must remain shielded to “protect the integrity of the probe.” He argued investigators need space to pursue additional leads without public interference.
But critics are unconvinced. For years, the LDEA has swiftly paraded alleged traffickers before the cameras—names, faces, and all. Why the sudden silence now? Observers warn the agency’s selective disclosure risks eroding public trust and fueling suspicions of unequal treatment under the law.
The House plenary wasted no time. In an emergency vote, lawmakers resolved to haul the LDEA leadership before them, demanding clarity on why this case—unlike countless others—has been cloaked in secrecy. “The people deserve answers,” one legislator declared, as murmurs of discontent rippled through the chamber.
