The National Port Authority (NPA) says it is investigating employees including security officers in the alleged thievery involving the departure of three 20-footed container trucks loaded with rice, which left the Freeport of Monrovia during the morning hours of Thursday, March 6, 2024.
“This incident occurred through the NPA exit gate at approximately 3:32 A.M. The suspects were apprehended on the Japanese Highway,” the Communication Director, Malcom Scott, said.
Scott said the investigative team had subsequently conducted comprehensive inquiry and summoned personnel, from both the main entrance gate and the exit gate, considered persons of interest in the matter.
He named those being considered as persons of interest by the NPA at the front gate as George Boakai, Gate Commander; Michael Johnson, Gate Drop Officer, and Abraham Z. Tulue; also involved are Robert Teah, Shift Commander; Charles Weah, Deputy Commander; Ezekiel Kollie, Deputy Officer, and Zwannah Haines, Deputy Officer.
The NPA spokesperson informed a team of journalists that initial findings divulged that the officers stationed at the front gate failed to execute their duties adequately, allowing vehicles access to the port area without proper logging procedures.
Scott added, “Additionally, it was discovered that Deputy Officers Zwannah Haines and Ezekiel Kollie, stationed at the back gate colluded with shift commander, Robert Teah, and Deputy Commander and Charles Weah, without the knowledge of the Senior Deputy Officer, Maj. Mark Walker, and an individual identified as Douda. This collusion facilitated the unauthorized exit of three trucks loaded with rice through the Bravo Gate on the morning of March 6, 2024. The source of the rice was traced to Fouta warehouse #7.”
He said vehicles bearing plate #s C-41018, H03612, and C-4342, with drivers Foday Kromah of New Georgia estate, Mohammed Kromah of Jacob Town, and Karlu Sible of Logan Town, were involved in the alleged thievery, saying, “Based on these findings of the investigation, Robert Teah, Charles Weah, Zwannah Haines, and Ezekiel Kollie, have been charged with Criminal Conspiracy under Chapter 10.0, and Criminal Facilitation under Chapter 10.2.
He said officers stationed at the front gate, George Boakai, Michael Johnson, and Abraham Julue, would face charges of negligence of duty for their failure to prevent the unauthorized entry of the trucks into the premises of the Freeport of Monrovia.
The NPA, which is branded as the gateway to Liberia’s economy, is also the home of several business entities that have their various ware houses in the facilities of the Port. One of those entities is the Fouta Corporation, where the rice may have been stolen from.
In response to the assertion that the consignment of rice was traced to the entity, an employee, who spoke on the basis of anonymity, acknowledged that Fouta Corporation was informed by the NPA security but noted that it was premature to comment on the process of the investigation that is ongoing, saying, “We were duly informed by the NPA but we cannot say anything now because what we say could jeopardize the findings of the investigation.”
