Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia — March 27, 2026 — The Liberia Joint Security has arrested Alpha M. Jalloh, a Guinean national, for attempting to smuggle a large quantity of Tramadol into Liberia. Authorities also seized US$1,187,000 in cash connected to the operation.
Jalloh was intercepted on Thursday, March 26, 2026, while transporting the controlled substance in a commercial vehicle bearing Guinean registration number BH 5002. Documentation obtained from the Liberia Revenue Authority confirmed his ownership of the shipment.
Tramadol, a synthetic opioid, remains a key target of law enforcement due to its widespread abuse and growing role in drug trafficking across the country. In response to escalating misuse, the Government of Liberia has banned its importation, possession, and non-medical use.
The Ministry of Health restricts the drug to licensed medical facilities under professional supervision, while agencies, including the LDEA, continue active enforcement.
Grand Cape Mount County — particularly the Bo Waterside Port of Entry and the Tianii checkpoint — has become a major corridor for Tramadol trafficking from neighboring countries such as Sierra Leone. Authorities have increased surveillance and checkpoint operations in the area.
The recent arrest adds to several significant seizures recorded over the past year.
In September 2025, LDEA agents confiscated 480 packs of Tramadol hidden in a petroleum tanker at Tianii checkpoint, valued at over $50,000, and arrested three individuals involved. Around the same time, 40 cartons of Tramadol were seized on a petroleum truck at the same checkpoint.
At Bo Waterside, officers intercepted over 1,000 packs of Tramadol hidden in luggage, valued at $112,000, resulting in an arrest.
In January 2026, two Sierra Leonean nationals were apprehended with 338.7 strips of Tapentadol/Tramadol, valued at LRD 845,500 (approximately $4,455).
Enforcement operations across other border points have also yielded arrests and additional seizures, underscoring the nationwide effort to curb illegal opioids. The LDEA continues to strengthen these operations through partnerships with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the U.S. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).
Authorities are urging the public to report suspicious activities, emphasizing that drug trafficking carries non-bailable offenses and severe penalties. The ongoing operations form part of a broader national strategy to protect public health and safety.
