MONROVIA – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has suspended its Chief of Operations, Abraham Okai Payne, following a viral audio recording that has sparked widespread public debate over his conduct and credibility within the agency. The leaked audio, which surfaced on Facebook on Sunday, August 25, 2025, allegedly captures Mr. Payne instructing a junior officer to release his daughter, who had reportedly been arrested in a Monrovia ghetto.
In the recording, Mr. Payne is purportedly heard ordering the officer to release his daughter immediately and threatening him when he insisted on performing his official duties. The audio has generated outrage across social media, with citizens questioning the integrity of the LDEA and its commitment to enforcing the law without bias.
Responding to the incident, LDEA Director General Anthony K. Souh announced the immediate suspension of Mr. Payne. According to a press release issued by the agency on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the LDEA “frowns upon such alleged actions which, if proven, undermine the integrity of the Agency and compromise the fight against illicit drugs.”
The statement further noted that Mr. Payne has been referred to the Board of Internal Inquiry and Professional Standards (BIIPS) for a thorough investigation. “The outcome of the investigation will be communicated to the public in due time,” the press release added.
The LDEA emphasized its zero-tolerance policy for unprofessional and unethical conduct, assuring the public that “no officer, regardless of position or rank, is spared when caught in any unprofessional conduct.”
