The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) arrested a financial backer of the Unity Party for drug trafficking at the Roberts International Airport (RIA). Quita Kosso Dolo, a 39-year-old woman, was arrested on July 12, 2025, after arriving on a flight from Nairobi, Kenya, with a layover in Bangkok, Thailand, and was carrying a diplomatic passport issued by the Unity Party-led government.
LDEA officers discovered 3.355 kilograms of cocaine concealed in her luggage, valued at approximately US$200,000. Quita hugely bankrolled the Unity Party campaign in the 2023 elections. According to the LDEA, Quita claimed she was instructed by a person named Henry Iki to collect a suitcase from his associate in Thailand and transport it to Monrovia, unaware of the contents. Tony Obi, a 38-year-old Nigerian attempted to bribe LDEA officers to secure Dolo’s release and was subsequently arrested. The LDEA has charged Madam Dolo with multiple offenses under Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, including trafficking, sales, and possession. The agency emphasized its commitment to enforcing the country’s drug laws and urged the public to report suspicious activities. The case is ongoing, with investigations into other potential suspects and drug-related activities.
A planned peaceful protest is set for August 7, 2025, in Monrovia to highlight the surge of illicit drugs pouring into the country. According to the organizers, which are predominantly women-led groups, the protest aims to demand stronger enforcement, rehabilitation programs, and accountability from the government. Prominent women, including Former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor, have condemned women’s involvement in drug trafficking, describing it as a betrayal of traditional roles and a threat to Liberia’s social fabric. They emphasize the need for comprehensive rehabilitation initiatives and community-led efforts to address the crisis. The Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL) has also called for decisive action from the government, including intensifying crackdowns on drug trafficking networks and expanding access to rehabilitation services.
In a separate incident, Agent Emmanuel Payne of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency was beaten to death on July 22, 2025. According to reports, Agent Payne was visiting a friend in Caldwell when he detected the smell of a suspected drug substance. He investigated and encountered a group of individuals smoking the substance. After a warning shot was fired, the group chased him, and he was brutally attacked and killed. The incident is described as a case of mob justice, and authorities are urged to conduct a thorough investigation.
Critics argue that President Joseph Boakai has not taken any practical steps to combat the surge of drugs in the country, other than merely taking a drug test, which they believe was nothing more than a showmanship. They wonder why the LDEA is hugely underfunded by the Unity Party government, which campaigned on combating illicit drugs in the country.
