Liberia nominates drug agency chief after cocaine busts

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has nominated retired Major General Daniel Dee Ziankahn to lead the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency after two large cocaine seizures in recent weeks.

Ziankahn's nomination as director general requires Senate confirmation. He will serve as acting director in the meantime.

The presidency announced the move late Monday after a joint security meeting on seizures valued at $19 million and $317 million. The busts have drawn public calls for stronger drug enforcement accountability and scrutiny of any possible involvement by public officials or police.

In late July, authorities seized nearly four tonnes of cocaine in Liberia's largest drug bust, during an operation on the road to the country's main airport about 30 kilometres from Monrovia. In June, authorities seized about 238 kilograms of cocaine presented as ordinary commercial cargo, including Maggi seasoning cubes, at Roberts International Airport.

Ziankahn has previously served as chief of staff of the armed forces, minister of national defence and military adviser to the president.

The appointment follows an investigative report by the Ministry of Justice and comes with Boakai's indefinite suspension of former LDEA officer-in-charge Fitzgerald Biago. The Justice Department report did not establish that Biago was involved in illegal narcotics trafficking, but said it found ethical concerns requiring further scrutiny.

Last month, Boakai dismissed 12 officials, including an airport operations administrator and law enforcement supervisors, over the narcotics cases. After the first cocaine seizure in June, Boakai vowed to “expose and destroy” drug trafficking networks and called for a coordinated investigation.

West Africa is a transit point for cocaine produced in Latin America and shipped to consumer countries in Europe, according to monitors.