MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A Kenyan woman has been arrested at Roberts International Airport while attempting to smuggle a large quantity of heroin into Liberia. Authorities say the suspect, identified as 37-year-old Larnah B. Arondo, was taken into custody by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) after her arrival in the country.
The arrest took place in the early hours of February 1, 2025, following a thorough inspection of Arondo’s belongings. She had arrived on Ethiopian Airlines flight ET-933 from Thailand through Addis Ababa when security personnel discovered 8.642 kilograms of heroin hidden inside a canopy frame. The confiscated drugs have an estimated street value of $388,890.
Officials say Arondo confessed during questioning that she had been entrusted with the package by a Nigerian man known only as Alex. According to her account, the man, who resides in Thailand, instructed her to deliver the narcotics to an individual in Liberia.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Abel Somah Gbedia, the Liberian contact mentioned in Arondo’s statement. Authorities are now working to determine the full extent of the smuggling operation and any potential links to a larger drug trafficking network.
Both suspects remain in custody as the LDEA intensifies efforts to uncover additional details surrounding the case. Investigators are also pursuing leads on the international connections involved in the illicit shipment.
