Lofa County: The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has dismantled a large-scale marijuana plantation hidden deep in the Kolahun Forest, marking a major step in its ongoing crackdown on illegal drug cultivation in Lofa County.

Acting on a court-issued writ of search and seizure, a joint operation involving LDEA officers and the Sheriff of the Kolahun Magistrate Court was launched around 2:30 PM on Saturday. The operation, led by the LDEA’s Lofa County Commander, followed intelligence reports linking the plantation to 38-year-old local farmer Janet Molay of Kailahun Town.

Upon arrival at the site—a two-lot parcel of land concealed in the forest—the team discovered a thriving marijuana farm. Authorities arrested Molay at the scene and destroyed a total of 2,384 marijuana plants, weighing approximately 51 kilograms. The street value of the illegal crop is estimated at USD $5,100 (approximately LRD 969,000).

The raid follows a broader investigation that began in December 2024, when another suspect was apprehended with 169 kilograms of marijuana seeds. That arrest provided the critical lead that eventually pointed investigators to the Kolahun plantation.

Suspect Molay is currently being held at the LDEA headquarters in Voinjama as further investigations continue.

In a statement following the operation, the LDEA reaffirmed its commitment to disrupting drug networks across Liberia. “This successful bust demonstrates our zero-tolerance approach to illegal drug activities,” an official noted. “We are determined to protect our communities and bring all offenders to justice.”

The agency is continuing its efforts to identify and apprehend other individuals connected to the operation.

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