CAPITOL HILL, Monrovia – Recent assertions by Liberia’s Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, regarding the whereabouts of the prime suspect in the US$19.2 million drug seizure, have raised more questions than answers about the investigation.
Emmanuel Weedee-Conway, emmnauel.weedeeconway@frontpageafricaonline.com
Since authorities announced Emmanuel Zeon as the prime suspect accused of transporting the cocaine shipment through Roberts International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County, conflicting claims have emerged over his actual status – whether he is alive or dead.
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), which identified Zeon as the prime suspect in the cocaine shipment, has maintained that he remains a fugitive wanted for his alleged involvement in the case.
The agency has consistently stated that Zeon is being pursued by law enforcement authorities as part of a joint national security investigation.
However, contrary to the LDEA’s position, conflicting reports circulating on social media and in sections of Liberian society claim that Zeon reportedly died long before the massive cocaine seizure at RIA.
Those claims have fueled speculation about whether the individual identified by the LDEA could have participated in the operation. To date, the government has released no official evidence confirming that Zeon is deceased.
Some Facebook users claiming to know the suspect posted what they described as his passport while asserting that he is no longer alive.
Doubts Over Suspect’s Existence
Amid these conflicting claims, the Justice Minister’s recent statement suggesting investigators are uncertain whether the suspect is alive or dead has deepened doubts surrounding the investigation.
Appearing before members of the House of Representatives on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, Minister Tweh presented an unclear picture regarding the suspect’s status.
Despite leading the investigation as Chairman of the National Security Council, the Attorney General admitted lawmakers that investigators cannot confirm whether the suspect is alive.
“We don’t know whether Emmanuel Zeon is dead or alive. All I can tell you is that we are searching for him. He remains a suspect. We are asking the public that anyone who has information can do us a favor by alerting the investigation,” the Minister said.
Bad Precedent to Disclose Early Investigative Findings
Minister Tweh, who appeared alongside the Acting Director General of the LDEA and officials of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), explained that the investigation has been elevated to a national security matter because of its potential links to transnational organized crime and aviation security.
While acknowledging public demands for transparency, he urged lawmakers to understand the need to withhold sensitive details to prevent suspects from destroying evidence or compromising operational intelligence.
“The implication to our security is critical. This matter has a very great potential transnational dimension with links to organized criminal networks. It is the government’s determination not to treat this matter simply as a narcotics case, but as a significant national security threat,” the Justice Minister said.
Attorney General Tweh further informed lawmakers that the investigation has become a collaborative effort involving Liberia’s joint security forces and international partners seeking to determine how the narcotics entered the country. He emphasized that prematurely disclosing key investigative details could jeopardize the entire process.
According to him, the government is prioritizing the integrity of the investigation over immediate public disclosure to ensure successful prosecution.
“We have to invite our partners and friends to help us,” he explained. “Due to our own limited capacity, we must exchange information with our international counterparts.”
Not Deterred by Public Pressure
Minister Tweh’s testimony came amid growing public demands, particularly on social media, for authorities to disclose the identities of individuals linked to the seizure.
However, he insisted investigators would not be pressured into revealing sensitive information that could undermine the investigation.
Despite repeated questions from lawmakers seeking information to calm public fears and rumors affecting key government officials, the Minister remained firm, saying only limited information could be disclosed.
“We understand the public interest in transparency and accountability. Those concerns are legitimate and understandable, but investigations must ensure that operational intelligence and evidentiary requirements are not compromised.”
He warned that prematurely identifying persons of interest or revealing investigative details could allow suspects to evade justice.
“We will not give any more information as we continue with this investigation. All of that will be protected during this ongoing investigation. We are willing to provide information, guided by wisdom, but if you are asking for every detail of the investigation, I think that would be detrimental. I want you to understand that.”
“If we start revealing details of the investigation, persons of interest, or cooperating individuals, the bad guys will begin destroying evidence.”
“We all know that this quantity of cocaine was seized in the country. The question now is: How did it get into the country? Who brought it here? Who are the local links? This is a wide-open investigation,” Minister Tweh told lawmakers.
Matter Moves to Executive Session
The Minister’s refusal to disclose substantive details sparked dissatisfaction among lawmakers, with some calling for the witnesses to be dismissed because they were unwilling to provide the requested information.
As tensions rose in the chamber, the Speaker suspended the public sitting and ordered an Executive Session to allow witnesses to present sensitive information privately.
Despite the closed-door session, the witnesses maintained their position, prompting lawmakers to return to open session, where only general testimony continued.
Investigative Team Promises Updates
Although key details remain confidential, the Chairman of the National Security Council assured lawmakers that updates would be provided as the investigation progresses.
“As I stated previously, we cannot give any information until the time of our conclusion, but you will be updated gradually as the investigation unfolds.”
Several Persons of Interest Under Investigation
Responding to reports that multiple individuals had been detained in connection with the case, Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh clarified that those questioned by investigators are persons of interest and not suspects.
He said the individuals were invited for questioning and were not arrested, contrary to widespread public speculation.
However, Tweh disclosed that Emmanuel Zeon remains the principal suspect being sought by law enforcement authorities.
“No one has been arrested, but people of interest are being investigated. We are searching for one Emmanuel Zeon,” the Minister said.
Meanwhile, investigators have expanded their probe by obtaining court orders compelling key airport operators to produce documents and surveillance footage believed to be crucial to the investigation.
Documents obtained by FrontPage Africa show that the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) successfully petitioned the 13th Judicial Circuit Court for Margibi County for a Writ of Subpoena Duces Tecum against GLS Mengies, the airport’s cargo concession operator.
The writ, signed by Clerk of Court Edward N. Boakai under the authority of Resident Circuit Judge Victoria Worlobah Duncan, orders the company’s management to appear before the court on June 29, 2026.
Under the court order, GLS Mengies has been directed to produce shipping waybills, cargo-related documents, and all Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage connected to activities on June 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2026, as well as May 22, 2026.
The subpoena specifically references incidents involving substances discovered in boxes believed to contain cocaine within facilities associated with airport cargo operations.
GLS Mengies is managed by brothers Peter King and Paul King. Sources told FrontPage Africa that Paul King was expected to arrive in Monrovia on Wednesday, although it remained unclear at press time whether he had arrived.
Earlier, the court also granted the LDEA’s request to subpoena the management of Roberts International Airport (RIA).
The subpoena orders airport authorities to appear before the court on June 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., and produce shipping records, waybills, and other documents linked to the shipment under investigation.
RIA has also been instructed to provide all available CCTV footage relating to the movement and handling of the cargo connected to the suspected cocaine seizure.
According to the court order, the requested footage must cover June 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2026, as well as May 22, 2026—dates investigators consider critical to determining how the boxes containing the suspected narcotics entered and moved through airport facilities.
More Than Routine Drug Trafficking
Acting LDEA Director General Fitzgerald T.M. Biago also informed lawmakers that the investigation extends beyond an ordinary narcotics case.
Echoing the Justice Minister, Biago said the seizure threatens Liberia’s border security, aviation safety, financial integrity, public safety, and international reputation.
“This case is far more than a routine drug trafficking incident. It poses significant threats to Liberia’s border security, international aviation, financial integrity, public safety, and the country’s international reputation,” Biago stated.
Behind the Discovery
Biago disclosed that investigators obtained crucial evidence from airport surveillance footage and continue examining the circumstances surrounding the attempted shipment.
LAA Explains Screening Role
Deputy Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority, John Z. Buway, clarified that while airport authorities follow strict international aviation security standards, their role is limited to screening cargo for safety and documentation accuracy.
He explained that security personnel are trained to identify discrepancies between declared cargo weight, documentation, and X-ray images—a process that led to the discovery of the narcotics.
According to Buway, whenever irregularities are detected, airport authorities quarantine the shipment and immediately notify national security agencies, a protocol that was followed in this case.
He emphasized that while the airport detects suspicious cargo, the criminal investigation itself falls under the jurisdiction of national law enforcement agencies rather than airport management.
