LDEA Accuses Police In Margibi -Denies Compromising With Drug Suspects

By Moses M. Tokpah
/MARGIBI
The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) in Margibi County has accused the Liberia National Police (LNP) of releasing a suspect arrested with a Sierra Leonean woman carrying L$292,000 worth of compressed marijuana near Kakata’s Total Gas Station.
On February 22, 2025, police in Margibi arrested the Sierra Leonean woman identified as Isha Kamara,38, along with Samuel Sannie, 33 with the substance.
It is reported that suspect Isha Kamara, during police investigation, claimed that Samuel was unaware of the drugs; a claim the LDEA boss said was accepted by the police despite being caught carrying the bag on his head.
The male suspect, according to LDEA’s Alex Flomo, was freed without a statement or bail, thereby questioning the believability of his ignorance given the drugs’ value.
The Margibi LDEA Commander argued that the suspect should have been turned over to the agency for investigation or retained as a potential state witness.
When contacted, Margibi’s Assistant Commissioner of Police, Patrick B. Kormazu, admitted that suspect Samuel Sannie was released by an OPS.
The Margibi Police Boss who said he was out of country when the arrest was made, said upon his return, he was informed about the apprehension of the suspects and the subsequent release of Samuel.
Mr. Kormazu said the reason that was given for the release of the suspect is that he provided information leading to Kamara’s arrest.
However, Mr. Kormazu said the OPS has no right releasing suspect Samuel and as such, he has been instructed to produce his living body and have him turned over to the LDEA for investigation.
In a related development, the Margibi LDEA Commander, Alex Flomo has dismissed claims of compromising a recent arrest involving two females and one male drug suspects in the county.
It can be recalled that the Liberia National Police recently arrested three drug suspects including 25-year-old John Sumo, 40-year-old Nowah Tokpah, and 22-year-old Anita Jallah, with an array of narcotic substances including 120 pieces of kush, 170 pieces of tramadol, 37 ties of heroin, and 71 pieces of cocaine.
The police confiscated cash amounting to L$28,490 along with drug scales and a tablet (iPod).
The suspects were then handed over to the Kakata Magisterial Court for further processing before being transferred to the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Margibi Detachment for comprehensive investigation.
Since then, there have been reports of the LDEA releasing the three suspects without any investigation.
Responding to the reports, Alex explained that the suspects were released temporarily due to health issues noting that one was pregnant, and another vomited during detention.
He also stated that the male suspect was also been signed for and will be turned over when investigation commences.
According to him, families signed for their release after consultation with the County Attorney, the magistrate and the Public Defender, with medical reports required for court proceedings.