By By: Alphanso G. Kalama
Anthony K. Souh, the Director General-designate of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), has exposed how the previous government under former President George Weah covertly placed over 1,500 Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) partisans into the LDEA. These individuals, who were never officially trained or employed by the agency, were given official LDEA uniforms and identification as “Action Agents,” according to Souh’s testimony before the Senate Committee on Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, November 21, 2024.
Souh, who was appointed by President George Weah’s successor, President-elect, outlined how these 1,500 agents, despite not being on the government payroll, continued to operate under the guise of LDEA personnel. He clarified that the LDEA officially employs only 631 individuals, but the remaining 1,500 agents were brought in through political connections and patronage networks, bypassing formal recruitment processes.
“1,500 people are out there with official identification cards and uniforms, but we have no records of them. They are not on the payroll and were not hired through any formal channels,” Souh said. He emphasized that the agents were essentially ghost employees, with no legal or official standing in the agency. To rectify this, Souh vowed to launch a comprehensive screening process to give these individuals the opportunity to validate their status or be removed from the system entirely.
In his remarks, Souh expressed his commitment to reforming the LDEA, stating that he would offer the infiltrated agents a fair chance to apply, undergo proper training, and meet international standards. “I don’t want anyone to feel left out or excluded based on ethnicity or political allegiance. I believe in quality, not quantity,” Souh stated, underlining his desire to avoid any political or ethnic tensions within the agency.
Additionally, Souh underscored the importance of preventing professional misconduct and political interference in the agency’s operations. He stressed that, should he be confirmed, he would prioritize building a highly efficient, politically neutral, and well-trained force capable of combating Liberia’s escalating drug problems.
Souh also made a passionate plea for more budgetary support from the legislature, explaining that the LDEA’s success in tackling drug trafficking and related issues depended on adequate funding and public collaboration. “We have the capacity to do great things, but we need the resources to succeed,” he urged.
His revelations come at a time when Liberia faces mounting challenges in controlling the spread of illicit drugs, with calls for stronger enforcement measures and institutional reforms. If confirmed, Souh promises to bring integrity, professionalism, and a renewed sense of accountability to the LDEA, as the country works to combat drug-related crimes more effectively.
