By Emmanuel Kamanda
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has confirmed the arrest of six suspects in connection with a major drug seizure valued at approximately US$19.2 million at Roberts International Airport (Roberts International Airport), but has declined to disclose their identities, citing ongoing investigations.
Speaking at a regular press briefing in Monrovia, LDEA Director General Fitzgerald T. M. Biago stated that the suspects are currently in custody but their names are being withheld for operational reasons.
“We already arrested people who are connected to the 19 million worth of drug case, but we can’t disclose their names now,” Biago said.
According to him, the decision to conceal the identities of the suspects is intended to protect the integrity of the investigation as authorities continue to gather evidence and pursue additional leads.
Biago made the disclosure during a Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) briefing, emphasizing that releasing details prematurely could compromise ongoing intelligence work.
However, the LDEA’s approach marks a shift from previous high-profile drug cases in Liberia, where the agency often released the names and photographs of suspects shortly after arrests were made.
The development has triggered public debate, with many observers questioning the inconsistency in the agency’s communication strategy and demanding greater transparency in one of the country’s most significant drug-related investigations in recent years.
Authorities have not indicated when the identities of the suspects will be made public or when formal charges will be filed.
