MONROVIA — STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu has called for a more comprehensive investigation into the ongoing US$19 million cocaine scandal, arguing that authorities must focus their attention on what he described as the “big fish” behind the alleged trafficking operation rather than limiting the probe to lower-level actors.
By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
In a statement released on Sunday, Morlu maintained that the reported cocaine seizure should be treated as a matter of national and regional security, warning that Liberia risks becoming increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated transnational criminal networks if authorities fail to uncover the full scope of the operation.
The STAND Chairman argued that drug trafficking has evolved into one of the most significant security threats facing West Africa, pointing to international reports that have linked narcotics trafficking to corruption, organized crime, violent extremism, and the weakening of state institutions across the region.
According to Morlu, the ongoing cocaine investigation should not be viewed in isolation but rather as part of a broader regional challenge confronting governments throughout West Africa.
He noted that international security agencies and multilateral organizations have repeatedly warned that criminal enterprises often exploit weak governance structures and vulnerable institutions to establish trafficking corridors and illicit financial networks.
“Drug trafficking is not simply about the movement of narcotics from one destination to another. It involves networks of facilitators, financiers, logisticians, protectors, and individuals who exploit institutional weaknesses for personal gain. If Liberia is serious about addressing this problem, then investigators must be prepared to examine every credible lead regardless of where it leads,” Morlu stated.
Morlu further argued that Liberia’s strategic location within West Africa makes the country particularly susceptible to the activities of transnational criminal organizations seeking alternative routes for cocaine trafficking.
He warned that failure to adequately investigate the matter could undermine confidence in the country’s security institutions while creating additional risks for economic growth and foreign investment.
“The implications of this case go beyond criminal accountability. The manner in which it is handled will influence how Liberia is viewed by international partners, investors, development agencies, and security stakeholders. The world is watching closely to see whether our institutions are capable of confronting powerful criminal networks through transparent and professional investigations,” he said.
Morlu’s latest statement is a demand for investigators to widen the circle of inquiry and question additional individuals whom STAND believes may possess information relevant to understanding the origins and movement of the cocaine shipment.
The activist organization stressed that its call should not be interpreted as an accusation of criminal wrongdoing against any specific individual. Instead, Morlu said the purpose is to encourage investigators to determine whether persons connected to institutions, businesses, or security structures may have information that could assist the investigation.
According to Morlu, the scale of the alleged trafficking operation raises important questions about oversight, accountability, and institutional safeguards that cannot be ignored.
“When large quantities of narcotics are alleged to have entered a country and moved through critical systems, it becomes necessary to examine every aspect of the chain. That includes operational procedures, supervisory structures, security responsibilities, and the actions of individuals who may have had knowledge of relevant events. That is what a serious investigation requires,” he asserted.
Morlu also expressed concern that public confidence in the investigation could be weakened if citizens perceive that some individuals are beyond scrutiny because of their positions, influence, or connections.
He argued that the credibility of the government’s anti-drug campaign depends on demonstrating that all relevant individuals and institutions are subject to the same standards of accountability.
“The Liberian people want reassurance that no one is untouchable and that no institution is beyond examination. Confidence in the justice system is strengthened when the public sees that investigations are conducted fairly, independently, and without selective treatment. That principle must guide every stage of this process,” Morlu said.
The STAND Chairman further called for investigators to continue gathering evidence, reviewing records, interviewing witnesses, and pursuing all available avenues of inquiry necessary to establish the full circumstances surrounding the case.
He emphasized that Liberia’s fight against narcotics trafficking cannot succeed unless authorities are willing to confront the structural weaknesses that enable criminal networks to operate.
Beyond the criminal investigation itself, Morlu urged policymakers to consider broader reforms aimed at strengthening border security, enhancing airport oversight, improving interagency cooperation, and modernizing anti-trafficking enforcement mechanisms.
According to him, the current scandal should serve as a wake-up call for national institutions responsible for protecting Liberia’s territorial integrity and public safety.
“This moment presents an opportunity for Liberia not only to identify those responsible for any wrongdoing but also to strengthen the institutions that safeguard our country. We must emerge from this situation with stronger systems, greater accountability, and a renewed commitment to protecting future generations from the devastating effects of narcotics trafficking,” he stated.
Government officials have repeatedly maintained that the investigation remains ongoing and that all individuals connected to the matter are entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence.
