–Government Clears Inspector General of Bribery Allegations in US$19 Million Cocaine Investigation While Former Finance Minister Calls on President Boakai to Treat Circulating Video as Potential National Security Threat
MONROVIA, Liberia – Liberia’s Ministry of Justice has publicly defended Inspector General of Police Gregory O. W. Coleman against allegations linking him to an alleged bribery scheme connected to the ongoing US$19 million cocaine investigation, while former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. has separately called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to order an urgent investigation into a viral video threatening the country’s national security.
The developments come as public scrutiny intensifies over Liberia’s largest narcotics investigation in recent history, with political debate, social media speculation and competing narratives continuing to surround the high-profile case.
Justice Ministry Clears Inspector General
In a statement issued Friday, the Ministry of Justice said it was compelled to address what it described as “false and malicious allegations” directed at members of the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force, particularly Inspector General Coleman.
According to the Ministry, the Task Force immediately launched an internal inquiry after allegations emerged that money had been offered in an attempt to secure the release of individuals being held in police custody.
The investigation, the Ministry said, confirmed that a police officer received and retained money without reporting it to his superiors or any member of the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force.
However, the inquiry found no evidence that Inspector General Coleman received, authorized, directed, or had prior knowledge of the money.
“Accordingly, allegations implicating the Inspector General are false and without factual basis,” the Ministry stated.
The Ministry further disclosed that the officer involved has been removed from the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force, relieved of duty and is now facing both disciplinary and criminal proceedings under Liberian law.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to the narcotics investigation, the Justice Ministry said the probe would continue “independently, professionally and without fear or favor.”
“No individual, regardless of position, influence, nationality or affiliation, will be shielded from accountability where credible evidence establishes criminal responsibility,” the statement added.
The Ministry also appealed to the public to avoid spreading unverified information, stressing that confidence in Liberia’s justice system should be built on evidence and due process rather than speculation.
Tweah Raises Alarm Over Viral Video
Hours after the Justice Ministry’s statement, former Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel D. Tweah, Jr. issued a public appeal to President Boakai regarding a separate issue—a video circulating on social media that he described as a potential national security threat.
Addressing the President directly in a Facebook post, Tweah said the government has a responsibility to determine whether the video is authentic and identify those responsible for its production.
He claimed that several information technology experts had concluded the video was not generated using artificial intelligence, although he did not identify those experts or provide evidence supporting the assertion.
Tweah wrote that the government should “authenticate this video” because of what he described as threats made against Liberia.
According to his statement, the video allegedly gives the government 24 hours to release Colombian nationals currently in custody and reportedly mentions the name of the President’s son in connection with the country’s ongoing drug investigation.
Calling the situation a potential external threat, Tweah urged President Boakai to ensure security agencies trace the video’s origin and determine its authenticity.
“Your Government has the important responsibility to authenticate this video given the threat made in the video against the nation,” Tweah wrote.
He added that while he believed there was a “75 percent chance” the video could be authentic based on the circumstances surrounding the ongoing narcotics investigation, he also expressed hope that his assessment would prove incorrect.
“The national security of our people is your most important priority as President, and I trust you will give this your utmost attention,” Tweah concluded.
Drug Investigation Continues to Dominate National Discourse
The latest developments come against the backdrop of Liberia’s ongoing investigation into the seizure of approximately US$19 million worth of cocaine at Roberts International Airport, a case that has triggered multiple arrests, criminal charges and an expansive joint security investigation involving the Liberia National Police, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Security Agency and other state institutions.
The investigation has also generated significant political debate, with opposition politicians questioning aspects of the government’s handling of the case, while authorities insist that the investigation is being conducted professionally and independently.
Earlier this week, the Inspector General of Police confirmed that a senior police officer assigned to the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force had been arrested after investigators found he allegedly accepted US$10,000 from individuals connected to the investigation in an attempt to influence the release of suspects. Authorities have maintained that the alleged misconduct was uncovered through the Task Force’s own internal investigation and emphasized that the officer’s actions should not be attributed to the leadership of the investigation.
The Justice Ministry’s latest statement appears intended to reinforce that position by distinguishing the alleged misconduct of an individual officer from the integrity of the broader investigative team.
Meanwhile, as questions continue to circulate online regarding both the drug investigation and the viral video referenced by Tweah, authorities have yet to publicly announce whether a formal investigation into the video’s origin has been opened.
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