By Amos Harris
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has apprehended two suspects for trafficking one kilogram of Kush, a deadly synthetic narcotic, at the Bo Waterside Port of Entry near the Liberian-Sierra Leonean border. The suspects, identified as Joseph Barclay, 26, a Liberian national, and David Kalokoh, 23, a Sierra Leonean, were arrested over the weekend around 2:30 p.m.
They were allegedly attempting to transport the illegal substance into Liberia inside a black Wrangler Jeep that was being towed through the border due to mechanical failure. According to the LDEA, the Kush, which has an estimated street value of US$20,000 (approximately L$3.8 million), was carefully concealed within interior compartments of the vehicle. The seizure was a result of both targeted intelligence and coordinated surveillance efforts.
“This operation was not a coincidence. It was based on credible intelligence, careful monitoring, and a sustained operation by our agents and joint security teams,” said the LDEA Grand Cape Mount County Commander, who led the interception.
Bo Waterside, a strategic port of entry between Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been flagged by regional security experts as a high-risk zone for the movement of illicit goods, including narcotics, small arms, and counterfeit products. In this case, law enforcement officers had placed several vehicles under surveillance based on intelligence received from sources along the Mano River Union corridor, focusing specifically on a black Jeep exhibiting suspicious movement patterns.
Upon its arrival at the Bo Waterside checkpoint, officers conducted a thorough search, leading to the discovery of the illegal narcotic. A rapid field test confirmed the substance as Kush—a synthetic cannabinoid laced with powerful and potentially lethal chemicals, including fentanyl, tramadol, and other psychoactive substances.
Barclay and Kalokoh were detained, interrogated, and formally charged under Liberia’s Revised Controlled Drugs and Substances Act. On Sunday evening, they were transferred to the Tienii Magisterial Court, the legal jurisdiction in Grand Cape Mount County, where they will face formal proceedings. Court officials confirmed that the preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this week, with both suspects expected to be represented by court-appointed legal counsel.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Joseph Barclay is a resident of Logan Town, a high-density suburb of Monrovia known for its history of drug-related activity. LDEA sources say Barclay has had prior encounters with law enforcement, though no formal convictions have been recorded. His co-defendant, David Kalokoh, hails from Kenema District in eastern Sierra Leone—a region that has recently seen a surge in Kush cultivation and experimental production. Kalokoh has reportedly claimed ignorance of the drug cargo, stating that he was merely accompanying the vehicle—a claim investigators are now scrutinizing.
If convicted, both men face up to 10 years in prison, substantial fines, or both, under Liberia’s strict anti-drug laws.
Speaking in Monrovia, LDEA Director General Anthony K. Souh praised the operation, calling it a “model for how inter-agency collaboration at national borders should work.” He emphasized the importance of continued public engagement and intelligence-sharing to stop the flow of narcotics. “This successful seizure is the result of our joint security initiative at major border points,” Souh stated. “We applaud the vigilance of our officers at Bo Waterside and call on the public to remain alert. Combating drug trafficking is a national effort—it is not the job of a single agency.”
Director Souh added that the LDEA is stepping up efforts in cooperation with the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Immigration Service to tighten border monitoring, particularly in cross-border corridors such as Grand Cape Mount and Lofa Counties.
Kush has rapidly emerged as a public health and security crisis in West Africa. While it initially circulated as a synthetic variant of cannabis, recent lab analyses have revealed highly toxic chemical compositions that produce dangerous psychological effects. Medical reports link the drug to hallucinations, psychotic breakdowns, and aggressive behavior, earning it the street nickname, the “zombie drug.” The Bo Waterside interception is the largest known Kush bust in the county to date.
A senior LDEA investigator, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Liberia is now working closely with Sierra Leonean security officials to establish a cross-border intelligence-sharing framework. The goal is to trace the origins and networks behind the trafficking of Kush and other synthetic drugs. “This is no longer just a national problem. We’re seeing trafficking rings composed of Sierra Leoneans, Guineans, and Ivoirians, and they are operating across the Mano River basin. We need regional cooperation to dismantle them,” the officer stated.
In response to the growing threat, the LDEA has launched a public awareness campaign in Grand Cape Mount County, educating residents about the dangers of synthetic drugs. The agency is urging citizens to report suspicious activity via its anonymous hotline and is partnering with schools, churches, mosques, and youth groups to spread its anti-drug message.
Director Souh also called on transport operators, commercial drivers, and motorcyclists to serve as the first line of defense by monitoring strange packages or behavior around checkpoints and border towns. “If we wait for drugs to reach our classrooms and households, the damage is already done. Prevention must start at the community level,” Souh said.
The arrest comes just days after Liberia commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on June 26, 2025. During the national observance in Monrovia, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai warned that narcotics are “weapons of mass destruction aimed at Liberia’s future” and vowed to confront drug abuse head-on. The Ministries of Health, Education, and Youth & Sports have since pledged to implement anti-drug education curricula in Liberian schools starting the next academic year. The policy aims to educate students early about the dangers of substance abuse and empower them with life skills to resist peer pressure.
As the Tienii Magisterial Court prepares to hear the landmark case, legal analysts say the verdict could set a precedent for how drug trafficking cases are handled, especially in Liberia’s rural and border communities. The case is also expected to test the robustness of Liberia’s new drug laws, which emphasize not only punishment but also public health responses.
Meanwhile, public attention remains fixed on Bo Waterside—now a national flashpoint in the battle against synthetic drug trafficking. For Liberians grappling with the consequences of addiction, corruption, and porous borders, this arrest is more than just a legal matter.