By: Ben T.C. Brooks
River Gee County | Oct. 23, 2025 | The Ministry of Justice, through its Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency – LDEA, has appointed Special Agent Bill M. Cooper Jr. as the new County Commander of the LDEA River Gee detachment.
Special Agent Cooper succeeds Special Agent Richard N. Nango, who led the LDEA operations in River Gee for several years.
His appointment marks a continuation of the government’s efforts to strengthen the fight against illicit drug trafficking and substance abuse across Liberia’s southeastern corridor.
Agent Cooper, a seasoned and experienced drug enforcement officer, began his service with the LDEA following his graduation from the Liberia National Police Training Academy on October 30, 2016.
Over the years, he has served in several key capacities within the agency’s command structure, both at the national headquarters and in various counties.
His early assignments included serving as Desk Sergeant and Front Desk Officer at the LDEA National Headquarters in Monrovia, later advancing to Alpha Shift Commander and Special Assistant in the U-704 Office. His career trajectory saw him rise through the ranks due to his professionalism, leadership, and dedication to duty.
From 2018 to 2021, Special Agent Cooper served as Chief of Operations at the LDEA’s New Kru Town Detail. He was later transferred to Sanniquellie, where he continued as Chief of Operations from 2021 to 2023, before being promoted to the same role at the Nimba County detachment from 2024 to 2025.
In October 2024, he was appointed Acting Deputy Commander of the LDEA Nimba County detachment and later served as Acting County Commander until his recent reassignment to River Gee County.
Upon his arrival in River Gee, Special Agent Cooper expressed gratitude for the confidence reposed in him by the LDEA leadership and assured residents of his commitment to maintaining law and order.
“I am deeply honored to serve the people of River Gee County,” he told Verity News. “My administration will prioritize teamwork, inter-agency cooperation, and community engagement to effectively combat drug trafficking and related crimes. The LDEA’s success depends on unity, professionalism, and the trust of the people we serve.”
Meanwhile, outgoing Commander Special Agent Richard N. Nango bid an emotional farewell to the people of River Gee and his colleagues in the local joint security network.
“Goodbye to River Gee County, goodbye to all my partners in the joint security, my LDEA officers, and friends in the media,” Nango said in a farewell statement. “To the peace-loving people of River Gee, thank you for the cooperation, coordination, and respect during my time of service. May God bless and protect each of you.”
Residents of River Gee County have welcomed the appointment of their new commander with optimism, expressing hope that his leadership will strengthen the county’s anti-drug enforcement operations and deepen collaboration with other security agencies.
The residents also expressed gratitude and appreciation to outgoing Commander, Special Agent Richard N. Nango for his dedicated service, professionalism, and the strong spirit of collaboration he maintained with both ordinary citizens and fellow members of the joint security team during his tenure in River Gee County.
The LDEA continues to play a critical role in Liberia’s security architecture, tackling the growing challenge of drug trafficking, substance abuse, and organized crime, issues that have increasingly affected youth and communities nationwide.
