Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia faces a growing national-security threat from international drug trafficking, with opposition political leader and lawyer Cllr. Tiawan Saye Gongloe warning that the country risks following the dangerous path of states where criminal networks eventually overpower state institutions. In a hard-hitting commentary titled “Liberia Must Not Become the Next Haiti-The Cocaine Crisis Is a National Security Emergency,” Gongloe called on President Joseph N. Boakai to establish an independent Commission of Inquiry to investigate the country’s escalating cocaine crisis, including allegations of high-level official involvement.
He noted that Liberia is no longer dealing with regular street-level drug trafficking, as evidenced by the June discovery of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport and the subsequent seizure of roughly 3,971 kilograms, or nearly four metric tons, in Duazon, Margibi County. He maintained that the amount and estimated monetary value of the cocaine indicate a highly developed international criminal organization that is able to take advantage of Liberia’s political, financial, and security infrastructure.
The cocaine we have found is not the only true national emergency. According to Gongloe, the technique allowed for the discovery of about four metric tons of cocaine in Liberia. The Liberian legal counsel, however, insisted on answers to a number of issues, such as who smuggled the cocaine into Liberia, who received and delivered it, who safeguarded the operation, and whether state officials enabled the trafficking network.
Gongloe emphasized that no one should be publicly condemned without proof and due process, taking care to separate accusations from actual criminal activity. He did, however, assert that claims allegedly made by senior security officers on the potential involvement of high-ranking government members must be disregarded.
“If the evidence leads to a poor man, investigate him. If it leads to a police officer, investigate him. If it leads to a businessman, investigate him. If it leads to a minister, investigate him,” he said, insisting that the same standard must apply even if evidence reaches someone close to the President.
“Follow the money” is the straightforward order at the heart of Gongloe’s suggested probe. He called on authorities to look into any questionable financial transactions, unexplained wealth, properties, enterprises, bank accounts, immigration and airport records, shipping activity, communications, and political connections related to the cocaine trade.
Gongloe maintained that breaking up the drug network necessitates identifying its financiers, facilitators, guardians, and beneficiaries in addition to physically seizing cocaine. He cautioned that public trust in Liberia’s security architecture is in jeopardy due to the alleged involvement of security officers in the ongoing probe.
Gongloe acknowledged steps taken by President Boakai, including administrative actions, suspensions, dismissals, arrests and investigations involving individuals connected to the narcotics case. He thanked the President for taking action but declared that “this is not enough.”
Experts in drug trafficking, criminal investigation, financial intelligence, forensic accounting, money laundering, organized crime, constitutional and criminal law, cybersecurity, border security, and asset tracing should be on an independent commission, according to Gongloe, who called for an independent investigation.
He argued that the commission needs to be adequately independent because some of the organizations in charge of combating organized crime may end up under investigation. The lawyer stated that its conclusions ought to be made public, subject only to justifiable national security limitations.
Warning from Haiti, Gongloe drew a direct comparison between Liberia’s emerging narcotics crisis and Haiti’s prolonged struggle with armed criminal organizations. He issued a warning, saying that Liberia needs to take action before criminal networks grow strong enough to subjugate communities, undermine governmental authority, and corrupt institutions.
He cautioned that “a country does not wake up one morning and discover that gangs control its streets,” saying that corruption, compromised security personnel, political influence, youth recruitment, and rising criminal wealth are all factors that contribute to institutional failure.
