SCHEFFLIN, Margibi – Authorities in Margibi have impounded a truck for unlawfully dumping garbage on the main highway of the Roberts International Airport.

The truck was impounded and the driver arrested on Wednesday by officers of the Schefflin Police Depot following a complaint from Margibi Superintendent John Buway.

Although it has no license plate number, the truck is owned by R&S Entrepreneur Incorporated, a sand and crushed rock dealer and logistics company based in nearby Paynesville.

Buway said while traveling from Monrovia, he met the driver of the truck, only identified as Mohammed, dumping the garbage along the road.

“This truck was parked across the road completely blocking traffic,” he said. “So, I made my way back and asked the driver to park and then I walked. When I got close to the place I saw the guy dumping garbage just on the shoulders of the road. I asked him why he was doing that. He said he took the garbage from Monrovia and was finding place to dump it.”

A pile of garbage near the truck responsible for the dumping. Photo: John Buway

According to Buway, it was not the first time that garbage has been illegally dumped along the main roads on the RIA-Monrovia and Kakata-Monrovia Highways.

“Most times we have problems with garbage there, and these are the kind of trucks that go and dump a lot of garbage,” he disclosed.

He said the actions of Mohammed and others have caused continuous embarrassment for authorities of the county.

He added that as a major route to the capital from the country’s only international airport, the condition of the road gives an impression of the country and its citizens.

He said authorities would not take the matter lightly. He announced that they would pursue a lawsuit against Mohammed and his company.

According to him, the action against the company would serve as a further deterrence for others. He called on the public to help prevent recurrence by reporting any further incidents.

“The truck will not leave until we can make him pay some fine. We would send him to the court to determine that,” Buway continued.

A close-up of a garbage pile dumped by the truck on Wednesday. Photo: John Buway

Meanwhile, the logistic manager of R&S Entrepreneur Incorporated, Morris Sangarie, acknowledges the wrongdoing of the company’s driver and regrets the incident.

“The driver told me he dumped the garbage here because there was already a pile of trash at the same location,” he said.

Sangarie said, however, that his company has since removed the garbage and refilled the pit with red dirt and crushed rocks.

The scene of the location after the pile of garbage was cleared. Photo: Gbatemah Senah

He is asking Margibi authorities to have mercy on them and release the truck, adding “I apologize to the authorities of the county and the entire government for this unfortunate situation.”

He warned members of the public not to repeat the mistake of Mohammed, noting that the action has taught his company a lot of lessons, adding that up to US$270 was used to clear the garbage and refill the pit.

The truck is currently impounded by the police while the driver has since been released after being detained for at least three hours.

Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah