–Piah Defends Integrity of Probe, Says International Partners Are Involved as Authorities Warn Against ‘Character Assassination’ and Premature Conclusions
MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia has strongly defended its handling of the ongoing investigation into the attempted export of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine, valued at an estimated US$19.2 million, warning that efforts to politicize the case and implicate public officials without evidence will neither derail the investigation nor influence its outcome.
Addressing Tuesday’s regular Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) press briefing, Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah dismissed allegations circulating on social media and in some sections of the media that sought to link senior government officials to the drug trafficking case through photographs and unverified claims.
Piah insisted that the investigation is being conducted professionally by Liberia’s security institutions with the support of international law enforcement partners, making any attempt at a cover-up “simply impossible.”
“The political gambling will not work,” Piah declared. “You will not distract the government away from doing what it ought to do.”
He added: “We are not in these investigations alone. We’re working with international people. So any wishful thinking about cover-up, compromise or interference is simply not possible.”
Government Rejects “Guilt by Association”
The minister’s remarks come amid heightened public debate following the charging of five individuals in connection with one of Liberia’s largest reported cocaine seizures in recent years.
Piah criticized attempts to portray photographs showing public officials alongside individuals as evidence of criminal association, arguing that such claims are both misleading and irresponsible.
He noted that public officials—including the President and Vice President—regularly interact with thousands of citizens during official functions, making it unreasonable to infer criminal relationships from photographs alone.
“You don’t accuse someone simply because they appeared in a picture with another person,” Piah said, adding that many photographs taken during public events occur without officials knowing the backgrounds of those requesting them.
He warned that such narratives amount to “playing with people’s character” rather than allowing investigators to establish the facts.
“No One Will Be Spared”
Reaffirming President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s oft-repeated position on the fight against narcotics trafficking, Piah said the administration remains committed to prosecuting anyone found culpable, regardless of status or family connections.
“The President has said that even if members of his own family are involved, they will not be spared,” Piah reminded reporters.
He added that Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung has publicly expressed a similar commitment, stating that no relative or associate would receive protection if implicated in criminal wrongdoing.
According to the minister, those declarations reflect the seriousness with which the Boakai administration views organized drug trafficking and other transnational crimes.
Investigation Must Follow the Evidence
Piah urged Liberians to allow investigators and prosecutors to perform their work without political pressure or public speculation.
He maintained that those already charged will be prosecuted before the courts, while investigators continue pursuing every lead connected to the case.
“What you want to do is distract our focus and turn it into a political campaign,” he said. “Don’t waste your time. We’re going to get to the root of this matter.”
He further cautioned that attempts to sensationalize the case risk undermining public confidence in the judicial process.
Government Criticizes Disclosure of Whistleblower
During the briefing, Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs Daniel O. Sando also expressed concern over media reports that allegedly disclosed the identity of a whistleblower connected to the investigation.
According to Sando, revealing the individual’s identity was unprofessional and potentially harmful to ongoing investigative efforts.
He further criticized what he described as sensational reporting suggesting that government was attempting to compromise the case, insisting that authorities had already moved to formally charge suspects and forward the matter to court.
Sando also took issue with reports attempting to associate the Vice President with the alleged drug syndicate through photographs, saying such reporting ignored the absence of any evidence linking him to the investigation.
“If somebody who is supposed to be a professional journalist decides to bury the truth and become political, we have to expose that,” Sando said.
Major Drug Bust
The cocaine seizure has become one of Liberia’s most significant anti-narcotics operations in recent years.
Authorities recently announced criminal charges against Michael U.S. Browne, also known as Rahim or Raheem Bah, Paul J. King, Oscar Browne, Emmanuel Kpah, and Usman Ali, alleging that they participated in an international drug trafficking operation involving approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine intercepted at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
The seizure, valued at roughly US$19.2 million, has drawn widespread public attention and renewed calls for stronger border security, improved airport screening systems, and tougher enforcement against transnational organized crime.
Several lawmakers and civil society organizations have since demanded broader investigations to determine whether additional individuals—including financiers, facilitators, or public officials—may have played roles in the alleged trafficking network.
Government Stands Firm
Despite mounting public scrutiny, Piah insisted that the administration remains focused on ensuring accountability through lawful processes rather than responding to political pressure or speculation.
He maintained that Liberia’s collaboration with international investigative partners provides additional safeguards against interference and reinforces confidence in the integrity of the investigation.
“As a government,” he said, “our responsibility is to allow those trained to investigate these matters to do their work. The facts—not politics—must determine the outcome.”
The government has repeatedly emphasized that the investigation remains active and that additional arrests or charges could follow should new evidence emerge.
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