MONROVIA: Liberia faces severe attacks from international drugs trafficking cartels, with the controversial US$19.2 million cocaine recently seized at the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
The illicit drugs case is fast creating apprehension, skepticism, and mistrust as state investigators delayed in arresting main suspects, while four others charged reportedly fled the country.
The controversial handling of one of Liberia's largest cocaine seizures in recent times has ignited a national storm, with prominent lawmakers and an increasing number of Liberians questioning the credibility of the ongoing investigation while accusing authorities of failing to convincingly explain how several key suspects reportedly escaped the country.
The raging drug crisis continues to cast a dark shadow over Liberia, where narcotics are increasingly entering the country, thus destroying the lives of predominately young people, fueling organized crime and undermining national security.
Many citizens fear that the country's reputation as a growing transit hub for international cocaine trafficking, threatens both its international standing and future economic prospects.
Critics argue that the questionable departure of several suspects has deepened public suspicion that influential individuals may have interfered with the investigation.
Adding significant political weight to the growing controversy, Senators Edwin Melvin Snowe Jr., and Amara M. Konneh have jointly demanded greater transparency and accountability, insisting that unanswered questions surrounding the investigation threaten public confidence in Liberia's justice and security institutions.
Edwin Melvin Snowe is the Senator of Bomi County and Amara Mohammed Konneh is Senator of Gbarpolu County. Both counties are located in the western region of Liberia.
"The seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport underscores a grave threat to Liberia's national security. It exposes serious concerns regarding the country's rule of law, border security and public safety," the two senators declared in their joint statement.
While commending the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Liberia National Police and the Joint Security Team for intercepting the shipment and charging five individuals allegedly linked to the trafficking network, the senators maintained that the investigation has left multiple troubling gaps that cannot be ignored.
"However, the circumstances surrounding this investigation raise troubling questions that deserve clear and credible answers," the lawmakers stated.
The two senators questioned how authorities, after publicly indicating that they had persons of interest under investigation, failed to prevent key suspects from leaving Liberia.
"The Liberian people deserve full transparency regarding whether these individuals were under surveillance, whether operational failures allowed them to escape, or whether other circumstances contributed to their departure from Liberia's jurisdiction," they asserted.
As concern increases in the manner and form the investigation is being handled, the lawmakers described the circumstances as deeply troubling, noting that, drugs valued at approximately US$19.2 million reportedly entered Liberia and reached the country's only international airport for export without security agencies physically apprehending any of the principal suspects before they allegedly fled.
According to the senators, "If these are indeed the facts, they raise serious questions about the effectiveness of our security institutions and our commitment to combating transnational organized crime."
The joint statement further questioned whether Liberia is demonstrating genuine commitment to fighting organized crimes.
"How is it possible that a cocaine shipment valued at US$19.2 million could be intercepted without a single suspect being apprehended by our security forces before leaving the country? Are we truly serious about enforcing the law and expecting the international community to take Liberia seriously in the fight against organized crime?" they asked.
Beyond the arrests already announced, the senators insisted that investigators must expose the entire criminal enterprise behind the cocaine operation.
Among the critical questions they raised, are who financed the shipment, how the cocaine entered Liberia, where it was stored or repackaged, who coordinated the logistics, which financial institutions were used to launder proceeds?
They stressed that local and international collaborators remain unidentified.
The senators wonder whether public officials or security personnel were involved, and how investigators reportedly cleared Emmanuel Zeon and Ruth Gbapaywhea of any wrongdoing?
"Drug trafficking poses a direct threat to our youth, our families, our institutions and our national security," the senators warned.
"Accordingly, we call for an independent investigation to be conducted with the full cooperation and technical support of Liberia's international partners to ensure that every individual responsible—from financiers and importers to traffickers, facilitators and any public officials who may have aided this criminal enterprise—is identified, investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law."
The senators concluded with a firm demand for accountability, declaring, "The Liberian people deserve nothing less than the full truth, complete accountability and justice. We demand an answer."
As pressure intensifies, the RIA cocaine scandal is rapidly becoming one of the most consequential tests of the Boakai administration's commitment to transparency, accountability and the rule of law, with many Liberians insisting that only an independent international investigation can restore public confidence in the pursuit of justice.
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