The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has strongly condemned the actions of two of its officers, identified as Solomon Gbondo and Faith Willie, after a widely circulated video on social media appeared to show them assaulting a female suspect.
In a statement released following the public backlash, the LDEA said it acted “decisively” within hours of the video’s emergence, stressing that the conduct displayed by the officers was “completely unacceptable and in direct violation of the Agency’s Code of Conduct.”
“The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of two LDEA officers… seen assaulting a female suspect,” the Agency said, emphasizing that its internal regulations strictly prohibit “assault, abuse, and inhumane treatment of any person.”
According to the LDEA, both officers have been immediately disrobed and turned over to the Board of Internal Inquiry and Professional Standards (BIIPS) for a full investigation and appropriate disciplinary action. The Agency did not indicate how long the inquiry would take but assured the public that the matter would be handled in line with established procedures and the law.The incident has reignited public concern over the use of force by law enforcement officers and the broader issue of accountability within security institutions. The LDEA sought to distance itself institutionally from the actions of the two officers, making clear that their conduct does not reflect the values or mandate of the Agency.
“The LDEA unequivocally distances itself from this misconduct and warns all officers against abusing the authority entrusted to them to serve and protect the public,” the statement said. It further warned that “any officer found engaging in such acts will face the full weight of the law.”
In a pointed conclusion, the Agency underscored its zero-tolerance stance, declaring that “there is absolutely no room for abuse of power within the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency.”
As investigations continue, civil society actors and members of the public are closely watching how the case is handled, viewing it as a test of the LDEA’s commitment to professionalism, human rights, and internal accountability. By: Tarr UB Garnett
/Ablee-Jay TV