MONROVIA – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has forwarded two suspects to court in separate high-profile drug cases, underscoring its renewed crackdown on narcotics trafficking across the country.
The accused — Massa Kandakai, 48, and Mohammed M. Sheriff, 38 — were arraigned before the Monrovia City Court on Thursday, October 16, and have been remanded at the Monrovia Central Prison pending trial.
Sheriff Arrested with Large Tramadol Haul
According to court documents, Mohammed M. Sheriff, a resident of Jacob Town, was arrested on Saturday, October 11, at the Bo-Waterside checkpoint in Grand Cape Mount County. LDEA officers reportedly discovered 1,067 packs of Tramadol, a potent and highly addictive prescription drug commonly abused in Liberia.
The seized narcotics carry an estimated street value of US$112,000 (approximately L$21.3 million).
During questioning, Sheriff claimed he was unaware the package contained drugs, saying he was merely delivering it for an acquaintance identified only as “Joshua.”
He has been formally charged under the New Amended Drug Law of Liberia for:
- Unlicensed possession, sale, and distribution of controlled substances (Sections 14.85 & 14.89)
- Prescription drug abuse (Section 14.92)
- Illicit trafficking (Section 14.93)
- Importation of controlled substances (Section 14.83)
Kandakai Arrested in Old Road Raid
In a separate operation, on Tuesday, October 14, LDEA agents executed a court-approved search and seizure warrant at the Old Road, Via Town residence of Massa Kandakai.
The operation led to the discovery and confiscation of:
- 23 grams of cocaine (US$1,242 / L$215,980)
- 98 grams of “Kush” (US$1,960 / L$372,400)
- 199 grams of marijuana (US$19.90 / L$7,800)
Investigators said Kandakai was informed of her rights and later signed a written confession, admitting that she had been involved in selling illegal drugs “for several years.”
She now faces charges for unlicensed possession, sale, and distribution of controlled substances, in violation of Sections 14.85 and 14.89 of the New Drug Law and Sections 50.5 and 50.6 of the Penal Law of Liberia.
LDEA Reaffirms Zero Tolerance
In a statement following the arrests, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency reiterated its zero-tolerance policy toward the illegal drug trade and warned that no one involved in narcotics trafficking will be spared.
“These arrests send a clear message to those engaged in the illegal drug trade,” the agency stated. “We are committed to making Liberia a drug-free society. No one is above the law.”
The LDEA also expressed concern over the rising availability of narcotics in both urban and rural communities, particularly among young people, and called on citizens to report drug-related activities to local authorities.
The agency emphasized that the latest prosecutions demonstrate its commitment to enforcing Liberia’s drug laws and dismantling networks that threaten national security and public health.
