By By: Staff Writer
Paynesville, Liberia – For years, residents of the United Omega Community behind the Omega Market in Paynesville lived under the control of drug dealers and ghettos, but a sustained operation by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has restored calm and security.
The community, particularly Block D, was for nearly five years known as a transaction hub for narcotics. Despite an LDEA sub-office nearby, residents said makeshift ghettos thrived in unfinished buildings and behind market structures, fueling theft, harassment and fear.
According to community members, movement after 7 p.m. was risky, and businesses were forced to close by 6 p.m. to avoid attacks.
The turning point came in mid-2026 following the deployment of LDEA’s Special Drugs Squad, SDS Base One. Acting on a formal complaint from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), which alerted the LDEA that its property in the area was being used for drug transactions, the squad raided multiple ghettos and established a permanent base within the community.
Special Agent Achie M. Wondee, assigned at SDS Base 1, described the initial operation as difficult, noting that the facility now used by the LDEA was itself once a ghetto.
“It wasn’t easy when we came here. This place we are using was a complete ghetto but at least, we are now in a comfortable position,” Agent Wondee said.
He said several dealers and users were arrested and forwarded to court for prosecution, with community members providing key intelligence for the operation.
Residents say the impact has been immediate and visible. Market stalls that once served as lodges for drug users are now empty, and petty crimes have dropped sharply.
Acting Chairman of United Omega Community, Block D, Arthur K.G. Yasiah, said the level of insecurity had reached a point where bodies of suspected drug users were discovered in the area.
“It was so challenging. In this community, you used to see drug dealers. They had base behind here where people used to sell their drugs. If you used to see the guys gather, it was just like food sharing in displaced camp,” Yasiah recalled.
He said the community previously reported three bodies found in one morning – one in an unfinished building and two near the junction.
Yasiah said residents can now leave household items outside without fear of theft, a practice that was unthinkable before.
“Today, I can tell you, sometimes we even leave our bucket outside. We couldn’t even leave it outside before. The whole place was in fear that people can bust your door,” he said.
Resident Mercy T. Johnson said the change has restored freedom of movement at night, while local business owners report extending operating hours to 10 p.m. and 11 p.m.
“I want to tell the Liberian President thank you for the LDEA here, they are doing well, let them continue,” Johnson said.
Despite the progress, community leaders say the gains remain fragile. Yasiah appealed to the LDEA to maintain its presence, noting that occasional consumers are still seen around the area.
As night falls over Block D, residents say children now play where ghettos once stood, and market lights stay on longer than they have in years – a sign that trust is slowly returning to Omega.
