Alarm over Missing Items in Traveler’s Luggage Spark Probe at RIA as Concerns over Integrity of Airport Security Lingers

Monrovia, Liberia: The Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) has formally launched an internal investigation into allegations of luggage tampering and missing personal items following a public disclosure made by a 62-year-old international traveler, Sabey Varpilah.

The LAA’s investigation was initiated following Varpilah’s complaint of the unexplained disappearance of critical parcels from his baggage after clearing customs at Roberts International Airport (RIA) in the early hours of May 16, 2025.

By: Abraham Sylvester Panto

In an immediate response, the LAA, through its Communications Department, has acknowledged the credibility of the social media post and signaled the beginning of a multi-layered, surveillance-based inquiry aimed at uncovering the sequence of events that transpired during Varpilah’s passage through the RIA terminal.

As the RIA remains the country’s main aviation hub, accommodating high volumes of passenger and cargo movement daily, the incident has amplified growing scrutiny around the airport’s baggage handling systems, access control points, and internal personnel accountability.

The Liberia Airport Authority has stated unequivocally that all closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings within the specified timeframe are being reviewed in chronological order, with forensic scrutiny being applied to all areas under security jurisdiction.

The baggage conveyor belt zones, customs screening corridors, and staff-restricted compartments are crucial segments of the airport to determine any breach in protocol or illicit activity.

The complainer’s account, though yet to be corroborated with official documentation, describes the disappearance of specific valuables from his luggage, despite visible evidence that the bags were not physically damaged upon arrival, prompting investigators to focus on internal access by authorized personnel or coordinated lapses between customs officials and contracted baggage handlers.

While the LAA has encouraged the victim to provide detailed descriptions of the missing items and timelines surrounding his travel, internal sources within the Authority have disclosed that all personnel on active duty during the period of the reported incident are now under procedural review, with individual access logs and baggage tracking sheets being cross-examined to ensure alignment between declared items and offloaded contents.

Security contractors stationed at RIA, along with all LAA staff assigned to ground operations on the morning of May 16, 2025, have reportedly been instructed to submit written statements as part of the probe, while external security consultants may be brought in should the internal review produce inconclusive results or signal collusion beyond the immediate airport premises.