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By David A. Sewarlu
River Gee County, July 4, 2025 — A truck owned by the China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO) has been detained by local authorities in Sarbo Woffiken, River Gee County, amid allegations of transporting crushed rocks without official clearance.

The truck, bearing license plate H0142, was intercepted by County Engineer Jerry Sackor, approximately 15 kilometers from the county’s capital, Fish-Town. According to Sackor, the vehicle was carrying crushed rocks reportedly extracted from within the county and destined for an unspecified location, in violation of local directives.

The seizure follows a standing order by Superintendent Mike T. Swengbe, which strictly bars CHICO from transporting or selling road construction materials—such as sand and crushed rock—without prior authorization from the county administration.

“These materials are intended for public infrastructure, not for private sale or unknown use,” Sackor told reporters. “We’ve had consistent reports from citizens about construction materials disappearing from sites. This intervention is in line with our duty to protect public resources.”

The whereabouts of the truck’s driver remain unknown, and an official investigation is now underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized transport and those responsible.

CHICO, a Chinese state-owned construction company operating in Liberia since 2008, has played a key role in southeastern road projects, particularly the Pleebo–Kanweaken corridor linking Maryland and River Gee Counties. However, the firm’s operations in River Gee have slowed over the past year, reportedly due to pending contract extensions.

While CHICO was previously lauded—earning Construction Company of the Year honors in 2013 by a Liberian publication—recent events have prompted scrutiny over its material handling and transparency in project execution.

Residents and local leaders are now calling for stricter monitoring of foreign contractors working in public infrastructure, citing the need for greater accountability and resource control.

Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.