AFTER SEVERAL DAYS of criticisms over his Unity Party government’s handling of the US$19 million drug bust, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., announced the suspension of Mr. Peter Malcolm King from his position as a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), pending the outcome of the ongoing Joint National Security Investigation into the seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
THE PRESIDENT’S ACTION followed last week’s decision by the Ministry of Justice to identify several institutions and individuals requiring further investigative scrutiny as part of the ongoing narcotics investigation.
WHILE WE APPLAUD the President’s decision and express intentions to protect the integrity of the investigation, preserve public confidence in public institutions, and avoid any appearance of interference with the investigative process, the Boakai administration needs to go a step further by establishing an independent body to avoid the perception that there is a plan in place to protect a few senior officials who may be involved.
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION wishes to emphasize that this action does not constitute a finding of guilt against Mr. King, nor should it be interpreted as a prejudgment of the outcome of the investigation. The suspension is intended solely to ensure that the investigative process proceeds independently, transparently, and without undue influence.
THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR SEVERAL REASONS. In recent years, Liberia has been embroiled in a number of high-profile drug cases with similar endings.
IN OCTOBER 2022, a record-breaking US$100 million drug bust rattled Liberia. Authorities, acting on intelligence from U.S. security agencies, intercepted a massive shipment of 520 kilograms of pure cocaine concealed in a suburb of the capital, Monrovia. The high-profile operation made significant global headlines for its scale—equaling nearly one-fifth of Liberia’s national budget at the time. Despite the massive initial seizure, the case eventually collapsed.
SADLY, IN MAY 2023, a unanimous jury verdict in Liberia’s Criminal Court “C” acquitted the four defendants of all charges, ordering the return of $200,000 in confiscated cash. The controversial ruling sparked immense public outcry and drew public concern from U.S. officials regarding the signal it sends to transnational criminal cartels.
TODAY, SEVERAL low-level airport workers and heads of cargo services have been designated as persons of interest based on witness statements, cargo documentation, operational records, and preliminary investigative findings.
PAUL KING AND HIS BROTHER Peter King of GLS Menzies are the most high-profile persons named to date as persons of interest. In addition to the King brothers, others named by investigators include Philip Yeoh, Security Manager of GLS Menzies at Roberts International Airport; Festus S. Musa, Cargo Handler at GLS Menzies; Ruth Gbapaywhea, RIA Scanner Agent; Archie Nyanfor, Cargo Handler at Express Handling Services; Arthur B. Abdullai, Chief Executive Officer of EHS; Geraldine Zeon, RIA Scanner Agent; Mohammed Gbowrah, Security Director at Roberts International Airport; Oscar Browne, Chief of Intelligence for RIA Security; and Emmanuel T. Zeon, identified as a transporter for EHS.
THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION owes a lot to Liberia and its international partners to ensure this case does not end up like the previous ones.
THE TWENTY MILLION United States Dollar drug bust at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) destined for the United Kingdom via Brussels on SN Brussels Airlines requires a robust interdependent investigation.
THE SIGNS ARE CLEAR that the drug bust, ease of entry into the country, and the attempts to load such a huge number of drugs through a logistics company with a multiyear concession with the Government of Liberia require the tacit or implicit cooperation of layers of bureaucrats and state security personnel.
HOW DID THE DRUGS get into the country? Who brought them in? Who are the financiers? Where are the drugs warehoused? Drug cartels require support from politicians and security personnel to ply their nefarious trade. The very nature of the drug trade requires security support, bankers, financiers, customs officers, brokers and senior-level politicians.
THE IMAGE OF LIBERIA, its ascendancy into the comity of nations, and the security and safety of the population require a serious investigation. The investigation must be robust, independent and include experts from ECOWAS, the European Union and the United States of America.
DRUG CARTELS INFILTRATE nations, both powerful and weak. They corrupt institutions. They infiltrate the very fabric of nations. They destroy political economies. They are a dangerous breed who will do anything to conduct their trade.
THIS IS WHY THE BOAKAI ADMINISTRATION cannot afford to fail Liberia on this.
AS REV. KORTU BROWN asserted in a FrontPageAfrica interview this week: “The investigators need to be more transparent and open. There should be nothing to hide because this is not good news for Liberia. The public deserves facts, accountability, and a responsible investigation. We need to make sure that every individual connected to this operation is held liable. This investigation is a major test of the government’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking and organized crime”.
THE FORMER LIBERIA Council of Churches President further stated that the outcome of the investigation emphasized that President Boakai’s pledge that no stone would be left unturned must be matched by concrete action. He urged the President to ensure that there are no “sacred cows” in the investigation and that anyone found culpable, including presidential appointees and senior public officials, is subjected to the full force of the law.
WE HOPE PRESIDENT Boakai realizes what is at stake here and does what’s best for Liberia. Nothing else!
