Monrovia – The Liberian government is facing mounting criticism over what many citizens, activists, and public commentators describe as the slow pace of the investigation into the alleged US$19 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport, despite a series of revelations made by persons of interest.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com and Augustus D.R. Bortue, augustus.d.r.bortue@frontpageafrica.com
Critics argue that investigators have obtained enough information to begin making arrests, while authorities insist that due process and operational secrecy are necessary to ensure a successful prosecution.
Among the most vocal critics is activist and political commentator Martin K.N. Kollie, who has publicly questioned why no arrests have been made more than two weeks after the June 8 seizure.
“Paul King and Peter King have to tell us how the ‘lappas and chicken soup’ entered Liberia, who imported them, and how they ended up at their residence,” Kollie wrote on social media. “If it were an ordinary or poor person, by now he would have been arrested and jailed. Justice and accountability cannot be selective.”
The Seizure
On June 8, officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and other security agencies intercepted approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine concealed in six cargo boxes at Roberts International Airport in Margibi County.
Authorities said the drugs, consisting of 198 compressed packages, were allegedly being prepared for export to Europe aboard a Brussels Airlines cargo shipment.
A Joint Security Task Force comprising the LDEA, Liberia National Police, Ministry of Justice, National Security Agency, and other institutions subsequently launched an investigation and identified at least ten persons of interest.
Those named include Paul J. King and Peter Malcolm King of GLS Cargo Handling, Philip Yeoh, the company’s security manager, and Arthur B. Abdullai, Chief Executive Officer of EHS Africa Logistics.
Peter King, who also serves on the board of the National Oil Company of Liberia, was later suspended by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai pending the investigation.
Airport Employees Suspended
The Liberia Airport Authority has also taken administrative actions against several employees linked to the investigation.
Seven employees — Nathan E. Watson, Henry Y. King, Geraldine C. Zeon, Ruth G. Gbapawea, Benjamin Rivercess, Mohammed Gbowrah, and Roland G. Taylor — were placed on administrative leave, while Oscar J. Brown was indefinitely suspended.
The LAA emphasized that the measures are precautionary and should not be interpreted as findings of criminal wrongdoing.
“These measures are administrative and precautionary in nature and shall not be construed as disciplinary findings or determinations of liability,” the Authority said.
Cargo Picked Up From King Residence
witnesses say the six boxes containing the cocaine were collected from the residence of GLS executive Paul King on Old Road before being transported to the airport.
Archie Nyanfor, one of the persons of interest, told investigators that he and Emmanuel Zeon acted on instructions from Arthur B. Abdullai, CEO of EHS Africa Logistics, to retrieve the cargo.
“On Friday, June 5, 2026, my boss Arthur B. Abdullai instructed Emmanuel Zeon and me to take six boxes of cargo from Paul King’s house to be shipped,” Nyanfor reportedly stated.
According to Nyanfor, the cargo was later transported to the GLS warehouse at Roberts International Airport, where discrepancies in the recorded weight led to further inspection.
He said he later learned that drugs had been discovered inside the boxes.
“I informed my boss, Arthur Abdullai, and he said, ‘Let them call Paul King because he is the shipper.’ We did not know what was in the cargo,” Nyanfor stated.
Abdullai Denies Knowledge
Arthur Abdullai has denied knowing the contents of the shipment.
Audio recordings from investigators’ interviews show Abdullai saying that Paul King informed him the boxes contained “lappa and Maggie cube.”
“The shipment was collected from Paul King’s house. They told us that it was lappa and Maggie cube in those boxes,” Abdullai said.
He added that his company routinely handles shipments for GLS and that he had no means of independently verifying the contents of the cargo.
The testimonies have intensified scrutiny over the ownership and origin of the shipment and the identities of those responsible for the attempted export.
Investigators are also examining the use of “Emre Venn Group of Companies” as the listed consignor on shipping documents amid concerns that the company may not exist.
Public Frustration Growing
The absence of arrests has generated significant public frustration.
Musician Bucky Raw publicly questioned why suspects connected to the cocaine seizure have not faced the same public treatment he received following his own arrest for a marijuana-related offense.
Residents interviewed by FrontPage Africa also expressed concerns.
Samuel Toe of Clara Town questioned why no one had been arrested despite the seizure of such a large quantity of cocaine. He said public confidence is being undermined by perceptions that influential individuals may be receiving special treatment.
Mary Wilson of Broad Street said ordinary citizens would likely have already been arrested if they had been implicated.
“If it were small people involved, they would have been arrested long ago,” she said.
Davina Yei Makador Queeglay, a student at Cuttington University who said she briefly worked with GLS, also criticized what she described as unequal treatment.
“When others like Bucky Raw were publicly humiliated and treated as guilty, many applauded. Now, when allegations involve people with influence and connections, the response appears very different,” she wrote.
She further questioned why authorities had not publicly searched the homes of those named in the investigation.
GLS did not respond to Queeglay’s statement up to the time of publication.
Political Figures Weigh In
Prominent political figures have also expressed concern over the case.
Alternative National Congress political leader Alexander B. Cummings said the allegations require a transparent and professional investigation.
“While allegations are not evidence, and every citizen is entitled to due process, the gravity of these claims demands full transparency, professional investigation, and public accountability,” Cummings said.
He warned against political interference and called for an independent investigation supported, where necessary, by international partners.
“We are watching this process with an eagle’s eye. Any attempt by hidden hands, powerful interests, or political actors to obstruct or compromise the investigation will be treated as a direct assault on the rule of law, the progress of our country, and the Liberian people’s trust in government,” he said.
Cummings also recommended public disclosure of investigative findings, identification of all implicated individuals regardless of status, swift prosecution of anyone found culpable, and strengthened airport security and anti-corruption safeguards.
Government Defends Approach
Government officials have maintained that the investigation remains active and that investigators are proceeding cautiously to avoid jeopardizing potential prosecutions.
President Joseph Boakai and the Ministry of Justice have urged patience, arguing that operational secrecy is necessary to dismantle the broader criminal network, protect witnesses, and prevent suspects from fleeing.
A lawyer familiar with criminal proceedings, who requested anonymity, said major narcotics cases require careful investigations to secure convictions.
He noted that weak or hurried investigations could lead to acquittals similar to those seen in previous drug cases.
Shadows of the US$100 Million Cocaine Case
Public skepticism is also rooted in the handling of Liberia’s 2022 US$100 million cocaine case.
In that case, four suspects arrested with the assistance of the United States and Brazilian authorities were acquitted by a jury in May 2023. Several of the defendants later left the country.
The outcome continues to fuel concerns that major narcotics investigations involving influential individuals may not result in convictions.
A Test for the Government
Political observers say the current investigation has become an important test of the Boakai administration’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking and ensuring equal application of the law.
Critics argue that prolonged delays risk reinforcing perceptions of impunity, particularly when influential individuals are implicated.
As pressure mounts, activists, civil society organizations, and ordinary Liberians continue to demand greater transparency, regular public updates, and decisive action from the government.
For many, the central question remains unchanged: Why have there been no arrests despite the growing body of allegations and public revelations?
