President George Weah is said to be under the radial of some security agents and is now a subject of observation by secret security agencies in connection to alleged sale and trafficking of cocaine in the United States.
Former Deputy Information Minister, Eugene Fahngon alleged that the report about President Weah being a subject of observation and investigation is no joke because it is a threat and a potential whip in the presidential election in 2023.
Speaking on his daily face book post cast, Mr. Fahngon added that the radial on President Weah started between 2009 or 2010, when he was caught at a scene of drug bust at the home of one of his best friend, James Bestman in the United States.
According to Mr. Fahngon, the Liberian leader was left by agents on ground that he was there purposely to pick up Mr. Bestman to accompany him to a convention of the Congress for Democratic Change in Minnesota.
Mr. Bestman has since been charged , prosecuted and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment but a number of Liberians were believed to be part of Bestman’s drug curtail in New York, Maryland , North Carolina and beyond are under the radial.
Fahngon explained that the seizure of 100 million United States Dollars worth of cocaine at the time when President Weah is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia and the chief law enforcement officer has further raised the radial on him to the level of threat .
The former Deputy Information Minister made it clear that the appointment of Sam Doe, a fugitive wanted in the United States for drug and money laundering, as Deputy Managing Director for Operations at the National Port Authority , has elevated the radial on President Weah and his close associates.
According to Fahngon, all of these are happening against the background that the arrest of Suspect Sheik Bassirou Kante for money laundering and illegally being in possession of Liberian diplomatic passport.
Recently, President Weah ordered Foreign Minister, Dee Maxwell Kemayah to investigate the circumstances in which Suspect Kante obtained Liberian diplomatic passport is yet to be made to public.
“Based on these preceding events, this has elevated suspicion on the Liberian leader because all of those arrested and fugitive were involved in money laundering, trafficking of cocaine and marijuana. The hiring of a reputed drug dealer to oversee the port’s operations, where 100 million dollars worth of cocaine is stored, sends the incorrect message to US security agencies that President Weah can continue to use Liberia as a point of transit or destination.”
According Fahngon, Sam Doe was a close friend of James Bestman, Secondly, Sam Doe escaped justice in Georgia , in the United states to Liberia only to be appointed to manage the port through which cocaine also one-tenth of the country national budget is a concern.
“Nobody can put cocaine worth 100 million United States Dollars on a first try because it might have been given security guarantee by some higher ups in Liberia and this might be first attempt.”
However, there has been respond from the Executive Mansion and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism as the post cast of Mr. Fahngon was released during the weekend .
“Abi Jaoudi Group of Companies has been accused by the President of the National Customs Brokers Association of Liberia of being connected to the smuggled US$100 million consignment of cocaine that the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) confiscated .
The accusation by James Hinneh claimed that TRH Trading Incorporation, which is a frozen food company, is an extension of the Abi Jaoudi Group of Companies.
Hinneh alleged that Abi Jaoudi, smuggled the drugs into the country via TRH Trading, saying the Lebanese-owned company is receiving preferential treatment from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to import anything with little or no scrutiny.
In a communication , Alegra Foods, the company responsible for loading the frozen goods on the container expressed concerns that such massive amount of cocaine made its way onto a container bound for Liberia.
The communication reads: Castrolanda- Cooperativa Agroindustrial LTDA (ALEGRA FOODS), a company duly organized and existing under the Brazilian law, with headquarters at city of Castro State of Parana, Brazil Colonia Castrolanda, herein represented by its legal representative, states that:
Alegra Foods was informed by phone that last Saturday (10/01/2022) Alegra Foods client in Liberia together with local authorities found drugs in container: MNBU4070592.
For the purpose to clarify this unfortunate situation, Alegra Foods informs that it shall fully cooperated with authorities, institutions and organizations active in the field to determine what happened at container loading or prior/after container loading
At least five persons have so far been named as suspects and three are currently in custody in connection with the smuggling operation1, 2022
The suspects are Gustavo Henrique, a Brazilian, Adulai Djibril, a Portuguese are at large and Malam Conte from Guinea Bissau. Conte is currently in custody.
A fourth suspect, a Lebanese national identified as Issam Makki who resides in Liberia, was arrested on the Sierra Leone side of the Liberian border recently while trying to escape. Makki, according to investigators, was part of the cartel tasked with negotiating with local businesses to buy their container once the frozen goods arrive at the port in Monrovia.
A fifth suspect, considered as person of interest, Oliver Zayzay, is currently on the run. Zayzay, according to investigators, booked three rooms at the Royal Grand Hotel for Henrique, Djibril and Conte.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
