By Anthony Q. Jiffan, Jr
MONROVIA – The Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Defense, Intelligence, Security, and Veteran Affairs, Lofa County Senator Momo T. Cyrus has raised alarm about critical operational deficiencies at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), including the presence of over 1,000 unpaid ‘action agents,’ some of whom have reportedly worked for more than a decade without compensation.
Senator Cyrus, speaking at a press conference after a high-level meeting with the officers in charge at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, said the agency remains dangerously under-resourced, structurally unfit for its mandate, and burdened by internal challenges that threaten to undermine the national fight against illicit drugs.
“We were basically seeking to understand what the agency has done, their key challenges, the support they need, and the reforms they’re planning,” said Senator Cyrus.
According to him, the LDEA is overstaffed and demotivated, and their operational base is unfit, noting that these conditions contributed significantly to the agency’s past failures under its previous administrations.”
The senator revealed that more than 1,000 LDEA agents, dubbed “action agents,” have gone unpaid for years some for over a decade raising grave concerns about their vulnerability to corruption and external influence.
“If someone has worked for 10 years without pay and is still showing up, the question becomes how are they surviving?” Senator Cyrus asked. “We fear this situation has created a fertile ground for drug trafficking to flourish under the radar.”
Cyrus described the presence of unpaid and unmotivated personnel as not only unsustainable but a direct threat to national security and the agency’s credibility.
He indicated that the current building hosting the headquarters of the LDEA is “dilapidated and unfit for purpose,” adding that the agency has entered negotiations to relocate to a more suitable facility, and the Senate is pushing for this move to happen by January 2026.
“The current building doesn’t in any way reflect a serious war on drugs,” he emphasized. “We’ve urged them to provide documentation on the new location, and we are fully in support of an immediate relocation.”
The senator also stressed the need for an urgent salary review across the agency. He disclosed that the Committee has requested a comprehensive profile of all employees, including their educational qualifications and experience, to guide efforts to restructure their compensation.
“Low pay breeds demotivation and can open doors for integrity breaches,” he said. “We want to make sure those on the frontlines of fighting drugs are fairly compensated and motivated to do the job.”
Senator Cyrus said his committee would no longer tolerate political interference in the confirmation of future LDEA leaders.
He stated that only competent, professional individuals with integrity will be recommended for executive appointments.
“We’re done with the business-as-usual approach where people are appointed because of political party affiliation or family ties,” Cyrus declared.
“This time around, we’re resolute. Those nominated to manage the LDEA must be professionals who understand the weight of the job.”
The senator’s remarks come at a time when Liberia continues to face serious threats from drug trafficking and addiction, particularly among the youth. The LDEA, though tasked with a vital national security mandate, has long struggled with internal dysfunction, low morale, and lack of public confidence.
Senator Cyrus assured the agency’s acting administration of the Senate’s full support but emphasized that reforms must be implemented with urgency and sincerity.
“What we’re doing now isn’t just oversight; it’s course correction,” he said. “If we’re serious about saving our young people from drugs, we must first fix the institution tasked with that mission.”