In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Liberian authorities have arrested four individuals, including a Sierra Leonean national, for suspected involvement in the importation of illegal drugs.
Mohamed Nyallay, the Sierra Leonean, was apprehended by agents of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) alongside two Liberian nationals.
The trio is accused of importing ‘Kush,’ a potent street drug. The contraband, weighing 10kg and packaged in two boxes, was intercepted at Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Monrovia. The shipment arrived on July 19, 2024, via a Brussels Airlines flight (SN245).
Nyallay faces charges as an accomplice in the drug importation scheme. His alleged co-conspirators include a clearing agent from United Parcel Service and the package’s consignee.
During a press conference, Christopher Peters, Officer-In-Charge of the LDEA, disclosed the details of the arrest and revealed the interception of a larger drug cache at Bo Waterside, on the Liberia-Sierra Leone border. The consignment seized at RIA tested positive for Methamphetamine, a component used in manufacturing ‘Kush,’ which has fueled a regional drug crisis.
Authorities estimate the street value of the drugs seized at RIA to be approximately USD 200,000 (LD 38 million). Additionally, a larger haul weighing 31kg, found in a Guinean-registered minibus driven by Liberian national Abass Sannoh at Bo Waterside, is valued at USD 620,000 (LD 1,017,800).
These arrests are part of a broader effort by the Liberian anti-drug agency to combat a growing drug epidemic, exacerbated by crises in neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Peters, appointed in June following a leadership shake-up at the agency, highlighted the challenges posed by Liberia’s porous borders in addressing the drug problem.
Peters emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in tackling the drug trade and announced ongoing collaboration with Sierra Leone’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to strengthen efforts against the drug menace in the region.
