Drug Probe Credibility Under Fire -Tweah Dares Boakai To Go Independent

By Elbie Pannoh

MONROVIA: Former Finance Minister, Samuel D. Tweah Jr., has challenged President Joseph Boakai to surrender Liberia's drug investigation to an independent international-backed panel, that warning confidence in state institutions is collapsing.
The former Finance and Development Planning Minister has mounted fresh pressure on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., calling on him to relinquish government control over Liberia's widening drug trafficking investigations and establish an independent, internationally supported commission to uncover the truth behind what he described as an entrenched narcotics network.
In a strongly worded public letter released Monday, August 3, and published on his official Facebook page, Tweah argued that the credibility of the government's anti-drug campaign hangs in the balance because, according to him, institutions allegedly implicated in the crisis cannot be expected to investigate themselves.
According to the former minister, only an independent inquiry insulated from political influence can restore public confidence and guarantee an impartial investigation into one of Liberia's most alarming national security challenges.
Drawing parallels with the politically charged 2018 "L$16 billion" controversy, Tweah recalled that former President George Manneh Weah invited international partners to participate in the investigation after allegations surfaced that newly printed Liberian banknotes had gone missing.
He said, that decision ultimately strengthened the credibility of the investigation and dispelled widespread public skepticism.
Tweah, however, maintained that Liberia's current narcotics crisis is far more grave because, unlike the controversy surrounding the missing banknotes, the existence of organized drug trafficking is no longer a matter of speculation.
"Unlike the L$16 billion lie, the existence of a drug cartel in Liberia is real," Tweah declared.
He contended that allegations implicating members of the country's security establishment have created an inherent conflict of interest, making it difficult for existing institutions to independently investigate the network without raising questions about transparency and impartiality.
The former Finance Minister therefore urged President Boakai to emulate Weah's approach by inviting respected international partners to participate in a fully independent investigation.
He argued that such a move would reassure Liberians and the international community that the investigation is guided solely by facts and evidence rather than political considerations.
Beyond establishing an independent panel, Tweah also challenged the President to address the nation directly on the growing drug crisis.
According to him, a national address outlining the government's strategy and commitment to transparency would help calm public anxiety and reinforce confidence in the administration's determination to dismantle organized drug trafficking networks.
His latest intervention comes as the Boakai administration faces mounting public scrutiny following a series of high-profile cocaine seizures, including one of the largest narcotics interceptions in Liberia's history, and the subsequent dismissal, suspension, and prosecution of several government officials and security personnel allegedly linked to the ongoing investigations.
The developments have intensified public debate over whether the government's current measures are sufficient to uproot criminal syndicates that critics believe have penetrated key state institutions.
Despite the criticism, the Executive Mansion has consistently maintained that the administration remains committed to enforcing the law without fear or favor, insisting that all persons implicated in the investigations will receive due process while those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Tweah concluded his appeal by urging President Boakai to seize what he described as a defining moment in Liberia's fight against transnational organized crime.
He argued that an independent investigation would not only strengthen the legitimacy of the ongoing probe but also demonstrate the government's commitment to "honesty, credibility and transparency" as Liberia confronts one of the most consequential drug crises in its modern history.