By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberian Senate Committee Chairperson on Defense, Security and Intelligence, Momo Cyrus, has openly expressed his discontent about the recent arrest and detention of a Sierra Leonean soldier by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
The Lofa County Senator also stressed that all, at the moment it does not augur well for the diplomatic tie between Liberia and Sierra Leone; which he said expresses its bitterness towards the arrest of its soldier on allegation of drugs smuggling in Liberia.
It can be recalled that on June 3, 2024, the LDEA announced the arrest of a 47-year-old Sierra Leonean soldier named Seryai Saffa for allegedly trafficking marijuana.
According to LDEA in its release, soldier Saffa was apprehended with 22 plates of compressed marijuana while trying to cross the Bo Waterside port of entry in Grand Cape Mount County.
The LDEA release further narrated that Saffa is currently in custody, facing serious drug trafficking charges, but this incident has since raised serious questions about jurisdiction and the appropriate venue for Saffa’s trial and subsequent prosecution.
Information has it that authorities are now deliberating whether Saffa should be extradited to Sierra Leone for trial or prosecuted within Liberia as this case has sparked a debate on international cooperation and legal processes in drug-related crimes involving foreign nationals.
However, since the end of the civil war, Liberia and Sierra Leone have enjoyed strong diplomatic tie over the years, as both countries have representatives and share economic, social and security bounds.
But making the disclosure about the matter, Sen. Cyrus noted that as per his intelligence gathered, the situation has serious diplomatic and military implication that should have been handled with caution and not the form and manner it is being done by the LDEA.
According to him, he has also been informed that Sierra Leone government is angry about the manner and form in which the LDEA is handling the arrest with their soldier seen wearing army uniform and being displayed all on social media.
He maintained that as a result of the arrest made by the LDEA, the diplomatic tie between the Liberia and its neighboring country, Sierra Leone could be tempered with, and or derailed in no time.
The Lofa Senator reiterated, “From my intelligence, the government of Sierra is not taking this issue lightly and as such, there is an urgent need for both countries to have a roundtable discussion surrounding this matter.”
Sen. Cyrus further indicated that the suspect should not have been arrested in such a manner and form, especially in another country’s Army uniform, and stressed that the situation poses serious threat to the military and diplomatic coordination between both countries.
