By By: Contributing Writer
Paynesville, Liberia — Liberian hip-hop artist Karwoudou Bucky Raw Cole was arrested early Friday morning as agents of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) executed a court-authorized search at his Paynesville home, seizing quantities of marijuana and American cannabis, authorities say.
According to eyewitnesses, the musician and a close associate were placed in the back of an LDEA pickup and escorted from the community shortly after the operation, which began before dawn and involved a thorough search of his residence. The agency later released video footage of the raid, emphasizing compliance with legal procedures and noting the presence of two sheriffs supervising the action.
Bucky Raw has publicly denied any involvement in drug distribution, insisting the substances found were for his personal use. He also alleged that LDEA officers confiscated L$60,000 from a small bag during the search — a claim the agency has not yet addressed.
Background: Career and Past Deportation
Bucky Raw rose to prominence in Liberia’s music scene after a standout performance at the 2016 Liberian Entertainment Awards. Born in Monrovia in 1984, he moved to the United States at age nine and grew up in Southwest Philadelphia, where he developed his distinctive “trapco” style — a fusion of Liberian hip-hop and American influences — before gaining wide recognition with his mixtapes Country Soda (2017) and CS2 (2018). His CS2 project even reached the Billboard World Albums chart, highlighting his international appeal.
In April 2018, Bucky Raw was arrested in the United States and deported to Liberia after violating the terms of his parole, a development that dramatically altered his personal life and career trajectory. At the time, reports indicated he faced legal issues in the U.S. related to domestic violence and parole violations, which ultimately led to his removal from the country under U.S. immigration enforcement.
Since returning to Liberia, Bucky Raw has become one of the country’s most influential artists, winning multiple national music awards, including Artist of the Year and Video of the Year, while also engaging with his community and fans across West Africa.
As of now, the LDEA says its investigation is ongoing and that further legal proceedings will determine the next steps in the case.
