The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), has successfully steered a series of specialized capacity-building training.
The training sessions were for officers mostly assigned in four of the five southeastern counties.
The initiative commenced on May 19, 2025, in Greenville, Sinoe County.
Head of the Agency’s Training Department, Fred Souh (no relation to the LDEA Director-General), and Samuel Blamah, Head of the Crime Lab, led the training team that provided specialized instruction to 11 officers from the Sinoe County Detachment.
The program focused on five key modules, including investigative interviewing, basic intelligence analysis, seaport interdiction, risk management and interdiction of precursors and drug identification.
The second phase of the training was held in Maryland County from May 26 to May 30, where 28 officers were trained using the same curriculum.
From June 1 to June 6, 36 officers from River Gee County also benefited from the program.
The final session took place in Grand Gedeh County, where 35 officers benefited from June 9 to June 13.
Averagely, the total of 110 officers from the four southeastern counties participated in the training, which was part of a broader mandate from LDEA leadership to strengthen the operational capacity of field officers.
The initiative was made possible through vital support from UNODC.
Meanwhile, the LDEA Director Anthony K. Souh, has promised more of such training opportunities to be extended to other counties.
Souh said, the continuation of the trainings depends on the availability of logistics and resources.
Beneficiary officers expressed gratitude to the LDEA and UNODC for the impactful training, emphasizing that the knowledge gained will enhance their ability to effectively combat drug-related crimes in their respective jurisdictions.
Source: LDEA Public Relations Section