By 
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has quietly deleted a press release it posted earlier today, following a storm of public criticism on its official Facebook page.
The deleted release, titled “LDEA Cautions Public on Ghetto Raids and Citizen-Led Actions Against Suspected Drug Dealers,” warned communities to avoid organizing independent raids against suspected drug dens and to instead coordinate with the Agency.
But the caution sparked outrage. Dozens of Liberians flooded the comment section, accusing the LDEA of attempting to stifle grassroots efforts in the fight against drugs a fight many believe communities are leading more effectively than the state.
When contacted via phone for clarification on why the statement was taken down, calls to the LDEA Communications Office went unanswered.
Community voices were sharp and unforgiving:
Lisa Tenneh Diasay criticized the move as counterproductive: “This is a national effort! The LDEA should be encouraging communities, not scaring them. Issuing warnings risks discouraging people from helping in the fight.”
Ernest Togar Jr. was more defiant: “LDEA can keep their trained officers we will go ahead and do our raiding.”
Elijah Sackie voiced deep mistrust: “Citizens have long suspected that the LDEA tips off drug dealers before raids. By insisting that communities report first, the Agency risks turning citizen vigilance into a warning system for traffickers.”*
The deleted release had emphasized that only the LDEA, as the “legally mandated institution,” had the authority to conduct raids, citing risks to human rights, safety, and due process if citizens acted alone. It also reminded the public that all suspects are “innocent until proven guilty” under Liberian law.
However, critics argued that the LDEA’s warning reflected more of an attempt to control community-driven anti-drug campaigns than to genuinely safeguard public safety.
Public confidence in the Agency remains shaky, with some citizens openly accusing the LDEA of shielding drug traffickers instead of dismantling their networks. Many say the Agency’s credibility will only be restored if it tackles corruption within its own ranks and works alongside rather than against ordinary Liberians who are taking bold steps to reclaim their communities from drugs.
