LDEA Arrests Liberian Woman at RIA with 3.355kg of Cocaine Worth Over US$181,000

The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested a 39-year-old Liberian woman, Quita Kosso Dolo, for attempting to smuggle a significant quantity of cocaine through the Roberts International Airport (RIA). The arrest occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 12, 2025, shortly after suspect Dolo disembarked from Kenya Airways flight KQ887 originating from Nairobi, Kenya, with transit through Bangkok, Thailand. A resident of Congo Town, Monrovia, Dolo was apprehended by LDEA officers after raising suspicion during routine surveillance. Although she had successfully cleared both Immigration and Customs, officers from the LDEA Special Detachment stationed at RIA flagged her for additional screening. A secondary search of her belongings led to the discovery of ten (10) compressed plates of a white powdery substance, concealed within her luggage. On-site field tests and subsequent laboratory analysis confirmed the substance to be cocaine, weighing a total of 3.355 kilograms. According to her preliminary statement to investigators, Dolo claimed she was contacted by an individual identified only as “Henry Iki,” a Nigerian national currently residing in Nigeria. She alleged that Iki instructed her to travel to Thailand, collect a suitcase from his associate, and transport it to Liberia, supposedly containing only clothing. Dolo further stated she was directed to deliver the suitcase to a man in Monrovia known as “Obi.” In a related development, LDEA officers arrested a second suspect believed to be the individual known as Obi at approximately 1:30 a.m. after he allegedly attempted to bribe officers to secure the release of both Dolo and the seized suitcase. Preliminary information indicates that Obi is the brother of Henry Iki. He is now in custody and undergoing investigation alongside suspect Dolo. The confiscated cocaine has an estimated street value of US$181,008.00, equivalent to approximately L$36,201,600.00. The LDEA has since secured the drugs as evidence in the ongoing investigation. The LDEA has reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy toward illicit drug trafficking and abuse. Under Liberia’s amended drug law, drug-related offenses are non-bailable, and violators will face the full force of the law. The Agency encourages all citizens to support the national fight against narcotics by reporting any suspicious drug-related activities to its 24-hour confidential hotline at 0777-133-333. The LDEA remains steadfast in its mission to protect Liberia’s borders, communities, and youth from the scourge of illegal drugs.