By Archie Boan
The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) says 251 individuals have already been arrested since the launch of its nationwide anti-power theft campaign.
“Operation Sweep,” on February 12, 2026. Yet as enforcement teams move from community to community, officials admit the number may represent only a fraction of those illegally tapping into the national grid.
Speaking to reporters, LEC’s Head of Media, Communications and Public Affairs, Philip Kamara Faley, disclosed that the operation has so far reclaimed nearly 5 megawatts (5MW) of stolen electricity energy that has now been restored to the grid. The corporation has set an ambitious recovery target of 10MW, signaling that the sweep is far from over.
Some of those arrested remain in detention, while others are paying hundreds of United States dollars in recovery and penalty fees. But authorities say the arrests are not merely about punishment they are about protecting a fragile electricity system already burdened by technical losses, infrastructure gaps, and financial constraints.
Daytime inspections are combing through residential and commercial areas, while nighttime raids are zeroing in on high-consumption businesses including entertainment centers, frozen food distributors, water production facilities, hotels, casinos, and select homes with suspiciously high usage patterns.
LEC insists no violator will be shielded.
For years, power theft has quietly undermined service delivery, contributed to blackouts, and increased costs for lawful customers. Officials argue that when electricity is stolen, it is ordinary paying consumers who ultimately shoulder the burden through unstable supply and higher operational costs.
“Operation Sweep” is being supervised by senior-level managers, with expanded enforcement teams working both day and night. The corporation is also urging citizens to report illegal connections through its hotline, 4600, framing the fight as a collective responsibility.
