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MONROVIA, Liberia — A cloud of controversy is hanging over the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) as several of its senior officials have come under investigation following allegations surrounding a large sum of money reportedly collected at the Bo-Waterside border.
Those reportedly being investigated include Acting Deputy Director for Operations Patrick Kormazu, Acting Director General Fitzgerald T.M. Biago, and Acting Deputy Director for Administration Ernest Tarpeh.
According to reports, the controversy stems from an alleged US$250,000 transaction that took place on February 19, 2026, at the Bo-Waterside crossing between Liberia and Sierra Leone. Sources claim the money was collected from an unidentified individual and subsequently transported to Monrovia.
The reports further allege that the cash was received by Acting Deputy Director for Operations Patrick Kormazu, who is said to have transported the money to the capital without the involvement or knowledge of customs officials stationed at the border.
Customs personnel at Bo-Waterside have reportedly denied any awareness of such a transaction, a development that has raised fresh concerns about whether standard procedures were followed in the handling of the alleged funds.
The situation has become even more complicated due to conflicting communications reportedly issued by the LDEA. In its initial response, the agency denied receiving any money linked to the incident. A subsequent statement, however, indicated that US$100,000 had been collected.
In yet another communication, the agency reportedly revised the figure again, stating that US$150,000 had been received and later deposited into an account at the Central Bank of Liberia.
The shifting figures and inconsistent explanations have fueled public suspicion, with many Liberians questioning the exact amount involved and how the funds were managed.
As debate around the issue intensifies, some citizens and observers are urging President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to commission an independent and transparent investigation to establish the facts.
They argue that a thorough probe is essential not only to determine accountability but also to restore public confidence in Liberia’s anti-drug enforcement institution.
The LDEA has yet to provide a detailed explanation reconciling the discrepancies in the amounts reported.
Credit: Spoon
