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Monrovia, Liberia – Senator Amara Konneh has raised alarm over what he calls the infiltration of Liberia’s drug fight by powerful cartels, accusing the government of punishing whistleblowers instead of rewarding them.
In a detailed statement, Konneh pointed to recent incidents at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) as evidence of cartel influence. He noted that officers who livestreamed the arrest of a Liberian woman suspected of trafficking drugs at Roberts International Airport were suspended and reassigned, rather than promoted for their vigilance.
Similarly, the LDEA’s Deputy for Administration, who publicly alleged that “powerful government officials” were involved in the illicit drug trade during a live press briefing, was dismissed from his post.
“The cartel is at work,” Konneh declared, warning that these actions send the wrong message in a country where drugs are devastating the youth population. “Young users and individuals struggling with addiction, the true victims in this situation, need our support, not the neglect that has resulted from the mess at the LDEA.”
His criticism follows President Joseph Boakai’s decision this week to sack the agency’s top three leaders and appoint an interim management team. The President defended the shake-up as necessary to restore professionalism and intensify the fight against narcotics. But Konneh argued that the frequent firings – twice in 18 months – highlight deeper problems tied to political interference and cartel infiltration.
Liberia’s drug epidemic continues to worsen, with addiction tearing through communities and fueling crime. As Konneh put it, what the country needs is not “political maneuvering” but competent leadership capable of confronting both traffickers and their alleged protectors within the state.
