The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested four men, including Liberian–Sierra Leonean musician Alonzo, celebrated for his role in songs like Can’t Believe, Salone Titi, and his feature on CIC’s Styleyeenen, in what authorities are calling the first documented attempt to smuggle Methcathinone into Liberia.
The arrest took place around 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 5, at the Bo Waterside Port of Entry in Grand Cape Mount County. During a routine vehicle inspection, agents intercepted a blue Nissan Primera with license plate A120421 and discovered 844 grams of Methcathinone concealed inside the vehicle’s rear door. The drug, a powerful synthetic stimulant, has an estimated street value of $8,440 USD, equivalent to about 1.7 million Liberian dollars.
“This marks the first known attempt to introduce Methcathinone into the Liberian market,” the LDEA said in a statement issued Wednesday. “Thanks to the swift action of our Cape Mount team, this dangerous substance was intercepted before reaching our communities.”
Authorities identified the suspects as 36-year-old Eariel Xavises Aweti and 28-year-old Samuel R. Grey, both citizens of Sierra Leone; 35-year-old Alonso Yeah, popularly known as Alonzo, a Liberian national based in Sierra Leone; and 25-year-old Matthew Sherman, a Liberian resident of the VOA Community outside Monrovia.
The arrest of Alonzo, who has been based in the United Kingdom in recent years and married there a few years ago, has stunned both the entertainment and civil society sectors. In addition to his musical career, Alonzo has been known for past anti-drug advocacy and participation in community prevention campaigns, a fact that has intensified public reaction to the charges.
“This is troubling,” said a Monrovia-based anti-drug advocate who requested anonymity. “If someone who has been a voice against drugs is now accused of trafficking them, it speaks to a deeper crisis.”
Officials have not disclosed whether the drugs were intended for cross-border trafficking or domestic distribution. All four men remain in detention as the investigation continues and are expected to be arraigned in court in the coming days.
The timing of the arrest has also drawn attention, as it coincided with thousands of Liberians taking to the streets of Monrovia to protest against narcotics, demanding tougher laws and stronger enforcement.
Methcathinone, also known as “cat”, is chemically similar to methamphetamine and is highly addictive. Its effects can include paranoia, hallucinations, aggression, and long-term cognitive impairment. The LDEA has warned that the substance’s discovery at a Liberian port of entry could signal a shift in the regional drug trade, with the country potentially at risk of becoming both a transit point and consumer market for synthetic narcotics.
“We remain firm in our mission to protect Liberia’s borders and communities from the scourge of illegal narcotics,” the LDEA said.
