By Amos Harris
MONROVIA – The Liberia National Police (LNP) conducted an early-morning raid at the World Trade Center, targeting a sophisticated criminal network accused of forging a wide range of documents and engaging in massive electricity theft. The operation, executed at 6 a.m. with a court-issued search warrant, has brought renewed attention to the country’s struggle with organized crime, raising questions about law enforcement’s due process.
The raid focused on seizing electronic devices like phones and laptops from several desk operators, including Momo Kaidi, Edwin W. Tuolay, Thomas Wesee, Josephine David, Sam Karyah, Sami King, and Prince Threach. These individuals and others still under investigation face serious allegations of forgery, impersonation, theft, and manufacturing falsified documents.
According to police sources, the alleged criminal ring’s activities were extensive, targeting numerous institutions, including universities, government ministries, and private companies. Their alleged illicit trade extended to creating fake high school diplomas, police clearances, travel papers, official stamps, and even court records. A central part of the scheme was the forgery of Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) documents, including power clearance papers and receipts.
Investigators believe the group was also involved in bypassing legal electricity connections, a practice that has cost the LEC millions and contributed to persistent blackouts across the country. An anonymous LNP investigator stated, “This is not just about document forgery; this is about organized criminal cartels undermining national revenue and essential services.” They added that power theft “cripples LEC’s ability to serve paying customers and stalls Liberia’s development.”
Former World Trade Center president Mustapha S. Mensah claimed the operation resulted in over 300 arrests. He also raised concerns about the legality of the raid, citing an anonymous source who alleged the search warrant was not properly issued. The LNP has not publicly responded to these claims, which has led human rights advocates to voice concerns about the balance between tackling organized crime and protecting civil liberties.
This latest bust comes as power theft continues to cost Liberia an estimated $40 million annually. The incident has sparked a public debate over the nation’s capacity to fight both high-tech fraud and physical grid tampering while upholding transparency and the rule of law.