Acting OIC of LDEA Calls for Unity Against Drug Proliferation in Grand Kru County

By: Emmanuel Koffa| Grand Kru County Correspondent

Barclayville City, Grand Kru County-Wednesday, October 1, 2025-The Acting Officer-In-Charge of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Grand Kru Detachment, Kessele Wolobah has made an urgent call for a united front among community members to combat the alarming proliferation of harmful substances within Grand Kru County.

His comments come amidst rising concerns over increasing drug-related activities not only in Grand Kru County but across the country.

Expressing his frustrations, Wolobah highlighted the troubling rise in drug usage and trafficking, specifically citing the responsibility of local residents.

He attributed the prevalence of drugs in Grand Kru County to a lack of proactive measures from community dwellers, who he believes are not doing enough to assist the LDEA in reporting drug dealers and their illicit activities. “It is crucial for the community to engage actively with us; we cannot fight this battle alone,” he stated.

Wolobah pointed to illicit mining activities in Grand Kru County as a significant contributor to the area’s escalating drug challenges.

He underscored the link between such illegal operations and the drug trade, suggesting that the chaos associated with unregulated mining serves as a foundation for various criminal activities, including drug trafficking and use.

The Acting LDEA head stressed the pressing need for additional logistical support to enhance the agency’s capabilities in effectively managing drug-related challenges. “We require more resources—vehicles, equipment, and training—to combat the ongoing crisis effectively,” he remarked; emphasizing that logistical constraints hinder their efforts to tackle drug issues comprehensively.

Wolobah praised recent collaborative efforts to enhance law enforcement capacities, commended partners for a weeklong capacity-building training that aimed at fortifying the skills of law enforcement personnel and improving their techniques in addressing the complexities of drug-related issues.

 He noted, “This training marks a vital step in Liberia’s commitment to strengthen our law enforcement agencies and tackle the drug problems that have plagued our nation.”

In a related development, at least 26 officers from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Grand Kru County Detachment were awarded certificates after completing a week-long intensive training program.

The training was organized by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and implemented by the LDEA, the training aimed to enhance the capabilities of law enforcement personnel in tackling the growing challenges associated with the illicit drug trade in the country.

Fred G. Souh, the Chief Trainer for the program, elaborated on the complexities involved in drug enforcement, emphasizing that addressing these challenges requires a collaborative effort.

According to him, the weeklong training focused on critical areas including drug identification, basic intelligence analysis, the interdiction of precursor chemicals, investigative interviewing techniques, and risk profiling at seaports.

Fred Souh called for increased logistical support from the national government, county authorities, and a proactive involvement from local citizens to effectively combat drug-related crimes in Liberia.

Souh stated that the knowledge gained during this training will empower our officers to perform their duties more effectively, highlighting that improved operational success rates are essential in the fight against drugs.

He expressed optimism that the skills acquired during the training will lead to enhanced performance and a more significant impact in the enforcement efforts of the LDEA in Grand Kru County.

Also speaking, stakeholders present at the training expressed appreciation for the support from partner organizations and institutions, encouraging LDEA officers to apply the skills learned in their daily operations.

They stressed the importance of ethical conduct and diligence in their responsibilities, with the hope that the enhanced training will result in a notable decrease in the prevalence of drug-related offenses in the County.