HIGH-GRADE MILITARY WEAPONS SEIZED BY LIBERIAN SECURITY APPARATUS
Monrovia: The Liberia National Police, along with the joint security team have disclosed high-grade Military Arms and Ammunition seized and believed to have been shipped by an American-Liberian national named Benjamin Boyd Baker.
Speaking to Kukatonon News, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Patrick Sudue said, the huge consignment of Arms and Ammunition was discovered and seized at the Freeport of Monrovia, last Thursday, January 5th.
Sudue iterated that conserved boxes loaded with high military-grade Automatic assault rifles, Sniper Guns with a range of 1000mm equipped with Scope and laser beams as well as an American-made M16, and AKM-30mm, Revolver Rifles, ammunition, and weapon cleaning and Maintenance Lubricants amongst others, were seized by Liberia’s joint security team.
The Police are investigating the motive of the weapons import but stress that the prime suspect has been identified and are working with the requisite entities to bring him to justice. “We have copies of his passport, he is a Liberian. It was verified through the Liberia Immigration Service. He is an American, Liberia so the issue of extradition I will not speak much on that but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working along with its counterparts the US embassy, to see how mitigation can be done; and whether he will be brought here or will be tried in the US” Sudue lamented emphasizing, “The process is ongoing and I can assure you from the standpoint of the police, but I am not Clothed with the authority, to determine whether Benjamin Baker will be tried there or if he will be extradited to Liberia”.
According to Inspector General Sudue, the Arms seized are 15 in total and the number of Ammunition is numerous.
He disclosed that the Arms and Ammunition that were discovered at the Freeport of Monrovia, consignee Barbara Debra, resides on the outskirts of Monrovia on the Old Road community.
“Her home was searched and she was arrested by the Liberia National Police and is currently undergoing an investigation to name her accomplices.
The shipper of the container of Arms and Ammunition is an American Liberian named, Benjamin Boyd Baker” Inspector Sudue said.
He explained that additionally, the Liberia National Police obtained a search and seizure warrant to proceed to the home of Benjamin Boyd Baker outside Monrovia in a Township known as Browerville. While at the home of Benjamin Boyd Baker, the Police checked all the rooms and did not find anything, and decided to search the ceiling. A man name Ezekiel Tamba was found in the ceiling, along with assorted high-power deadly weapons.
“During the search and seizure, we check all of the rooms and did not find any contract band, so we decided to check in the ceiling of the house, and when our men climbed in the ceiling they saw a guy by the name of Ezekiel Tamba, who was hiding in the ceiling, so he was brought down. And we decided to check the ceiling using our gadgets and we came across five fully automatic weapons including sniper’s weapons, Remington double barrel; and we managed to bring those weapons down with some cash of ammunition” he furthered.
Besides these scary revelations, on Saturday, January 7, additional Arms and Ammunition were discovered and confiscated by the Liberia National Police.
At the same time, Police Inspector General Sudue speaking in an exclusive interview with Kukatonon News on Monday, January 9th, accentuated that the safety of everyone within the territorial confines of Liberia is paramount and the joint Security of Liberia, will do everything possible to ensure peaceful and democratic elections this year.
Inspector General Sudue avouched that if one were to take into account the Classification of Arms and Ammunition brought into Liberia, it would not take an Army to cause Havoc or destabilize the Country it only requires, trained men to carry out such an evil act and this is the reason, why the Police are investigating to ascertain, the motive of Benjamin Boyd Baker bringing such high-grade weapons I to the Country.
Deliberating further on the discovery and seizure of the Arms and ammunition, Inspector General Partick Sudue, said there is other ammunition in the possession of the Police whose Arms have not been found yet but the Police are investigating if those Arms were shipped to Liberia earlier or whether they have not arrived here.
As news of the discovery and seizure of the consignment of Arms and Ammunition in Liberia, has gone viral, many Liberians are concerned and hoping that the wave of insurrection. That hit some West African states last year and does not reach the shores of Liberia.
In recent months, West Africa in 2021 and 2022, had multiple skirmishes and grapples of power.
On the 5th, of September 2021, Ex- the President of Guinea Alpha Condé was overthrown by the country’s armed forces after gunfire in the capital, Conakry. Special Forces commander Mamady Doumbouya remains in power despite an ultimatum by Ecowas for a return to Democratic rule. Also, in 2021 there was a coup d’état in Mali. It began on the night of 24 May 2021 when the Malian Army led by Vice President Assimi Goïta captured President Bah N’daw, Prime Minister Moctar Ouane, and Minister of Defence Souleymane Doucouré.
Similarly, there was a coup d’état t in Burkina Faso on 30 September 2022, that removed Interim President Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba over his alleged inability to deal with the country’s Islamist insurgency. Damiba had come to power in a coup d’état just eight months earlier. Captain Ibrahim Traoré took over as interim leader of that West African state.
Meanwhile, as the news of the discovery of Arms and Ammunition remain on the lips of Liberians, the Police are urging everyone to remain calm as investigations continue.
