Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has dismissed the top leadership of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), citing the need for urgent reforms as the country grapples with a deepening drug crisis. The move comes amid growing public concern over the proliferation of synthetic drugs, particularly the highly addictive substance known locally as “kush.”
In a statement released by the Executive Mansion on Thursday, Boakai announced the removal of LDEA Director General Anthony K. Souh, Deputy Director for Administration Gwee K. Porkpah, and Deputy Director for Operations Sebastian Farr. The dismissals are part of a broader effort to restore public confidence in the agency and strengthen its operational capacity.
To fill the leadership vacuum, the President appointed a new interim management team composed of seasoned security professionals:
Fitzgerald T. M. Biago, Deputy Commissioner of Police, will serve as Officer-in-Charge, Ernest T. Tarpeh, Assistant Director for Special Services at the National Security Agency (NSA), will assume the role of Deputy for Administration and Investigation and Patrick B. Kormazu, Assistant Commissioner of Police, has been named Deputy for Operations.
The appointments have been met with widespread approval from civil society groups and community leaders, who have long called for a more disciplined and accountable approach to drug enforcement. Security analysts say the selection of law enforcement officials with proven track records signals a renewed commitment by the Boakai administration to confront the drug epidemic head-on.
Both Biago and Kormazu are recognized for their leadership in combating organized crime and narcotics trafficking within the Liberia National Police (LNP), while Tarpeh is known for his strategic oversight and investigative acumen at the NSA.
Liberia has seen a sharp rise in synthetic drug use in recent years, with addiction rates climbing among young people. Religious leaders, health professionals, and advocacy groups have repeatedly urged the government to declare a national emergency and implement sweeping reforms.
The President’s decision follows a series of controversies at the LDEA, including the recent suspension of Chief of Operations Maj. Abraham O. Payne. Payne was implicated in a leaked audio recording in which he allegedly ordered the release of his daughter from police custody after she was arrested in a drug-related incident. The recording, which circulated widely on social media, sparked public outrage and renewed calls for accountability.
This marks the second major shake-up at the LDEA under Boakai’s leadership. In 2024, he dismissed then-Director General Abraham Kromah and two deputies amid internal disputes that disrupted agency operations.
Sources within the Executive Mansion say the interim team has been tasked with restoring the LDEA’s credibility, enhancing inter-agency cooperation, and laying the groundwork for long-term institutional reform.
President Boakai, who campaigned on a platform of eradicating drug trafficking and addiction, faces mounting pressure to deliver on his promises. With the latest appointments, many Liberians are hopeful that the country may be turning a corner in its battle against narcotics.
