BOAKAI DRAWS BATTLE LINES AGAINST DRUG TRAFFICKERS, PUTS RETIRED GENERAL ZIANKAHN IN CHARGE OF LDEA

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has made his strongest move yet in Liberia’s fight against illicit drugs, appointing retired Major General Daniel Dee Ziankahn, Jr. to take charge of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) as the government signals a tougher campaign against drug traffickers, organized crime and officials suspected of misconduct.

The appointment, which requires confirmation by the Liberian Senate, immediately places a highly experienced national security figure at the center of Liberia’s drug enforcement efforts. Ziankahn, a former Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia and former Minister of National Defense, has been ordered to begin serving in an acting capacity while awaiting legislative confirmation.

President Boakai also appointed Precious Rue as Deputy Director General for Operations and Prince Mulbah as Deputy Director General for Administration. The three officials are expected to immediately begin reshaping the agency at a time when narcotics trafficking has become one of the most closely watched security issues in Liberia.

The decision comes after the Ministry of Justice submitted an investigative report to the President and follows a marathon meeting of the National Security Council. The move gives the public a clear signal that the administration intends to place drug enforcement at the center of its national security agenda and strengthen cooperation among the LDEA, police, Justice Ministry and other security institutions.

President Boakai has repeatedly described narcotics trafficking as a major threat to Liberia’s young population, national security and development. His latest decision comes with a direct warning to individuals involved in the illegal drug trade, as the President promised that the government would pursue both traffickers and those who help them.

“Our fight against drugs is a fight for the future of Liberia,” President Boakai declared. “There will be no safe haven for drug traffickers or those who aid and abet them.”

The President has instructed the new LDEA leadership to work with the Joint Security, the Ministry of Justice and international partners to dismantle drug trafficking networks, tighten border security and improve intelligence and enforcement operations. The administration says the goal is not only to arrest traffickers but also to strengthen the institutions responsible for protecting communities from narcotics.

The shake-up also affects former LDEA Officer in Charge Fitzgerald Biago, who has been indefinitely suspended from the Liberia National Police over what the presidency calls ethical transgressions. However, the Justice Ministry's report did not establish Biago's involvement in illegal narcotics trafficking, and President Boakai has ordered a further investigation while stressing that allegations must be handled through due process.

“No individual will be condemned without evidence, but no public official will be exempt from accountability where questions of integrity arise,” Boakai said, reinforcing his administration’s position that the drug war must also include accountability within the security sector. With Ziankahn now positioned to lead the LDEA, the coming months are likely to test whether the government can turn its tough rhetoric into stronger arrests, better intelligence, tighter borders and a more effective national response to Liberia’s drug crisis.