-Information Minister Says Investigation Will not Be Monopolized as Government Rejects Reports Linking Liberia’s Diplomatic Pouch System to the US$19.2 Million Cocaine Seizure
MONROVIA – The Liberian Government has strongly defended the ongoing investigation into the seizure of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at approximately US$19.2 million at Roberts International Airport (RIA), insisting that no individual or institution will be shielded from scrutiny as authorities move to dismantle what officials increasingly describe as a sophisticated drug trafficking network.
Speaking during Tuesday’s regular Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) press briefing, Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah dismissed allegations that the investigation is being selectively pursued and rejected reports attempting to link Liberia’s diplomatic pouch system to the narcotics scandal.
“The Government categorically rejects these claims as false, baseless, and entirely unsupported by any facts,” Piah said.
“There is no investigation involving the diplomatic pouch system, nor is there any evidence whatsoever linking Liberia’s diplomatic pouch services to narcotic trafficking or the transportation of illicit substances.”
The minister’s comments come amid growing public debate over the massive drug seizure, which has triggered one of the largest narcotics investigations in Liberia’s recent history and led to the designation of several airport security officials, cargo handlers and business executives as persons of interest.
Authorities have already identified ten individuals as central to the probe, including senior officials associated with airport cargo handling operations and security services.
Piah stressed that attempts to drag Liberia’s diplomatic network into the controversy were irresponsible and potentially damaging to the country’s international relationships.
“A diplomatic pouch system is used exclusively for the transmission of official government correspondence, confidential diplomatic communications, and authorized documents between the Government of Liberia and its embassies, consulates and permanent missions abroad,” he explained.
The minister also used the briefing to defend President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s handling of the investigation, pointing to the recent suspension of NOCAL Board member Peter Malcolm King, whose associated entities were identified for further scrutiny by the Joint Investigative Task Force.
According to Piah, the President’s action demonstrates the administration’s willingness to act decisively regardless of status or influence.
“The President remains steadfast in his commitment to combating illicit drug trafficking and strengthening Liberian institutions through accountability, transparency and adherence to the rule of law,” he said.
The comments follow a series of actions by the Boakai administration since the June 8 seizure, including the establishment of a Joint National Security Investigative Task Force headed by the Ministry of Justice and comprising multiple security agencies.
The task force has been charged with tracing the origins of the shipment, identifying all individuals involved in its movement through Liberia’s cargo system, and determining whether the seizure is linked to a wider transnational trafficking operation.
During the press briefing, Piah pushed back against criticism that the government’s investigation is either politically motivated or designed to protect powerful interests.
“These investigations will not be monopolized,” he declared. “We’ll get to the crux of the matter. We’ll end these investigations, and people who are culpable for what took place there will be held accountable.”
The minister further suggested that the government’s response to the current seizure differs significantly from previous high-profile drug cases, arguing that the administration has demonstrated greater urgency and transparency.
He cited the President’s direct involvement, the elevation of the matter to a national security priority, and the decision to suspend public officials linked to entities under investigation as evidence of a more aggressive approach.
Piah also reaffirmed the government’s broader commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks operating within Liberia.
“The end goal,” he said, “is to do everything legally within the powers of the government to destroy what now looks like an existing cartel that is taking interest in using our country as a point of transit for dangerous substances.”
The investigation remains active, with security authorities continuing to pursue additional leads and locate persons of interest who remain outside the reach of investigators.
As public attention remains fixed on the case, government officials say the focus will remain on ensuring a professional, evidence-based investigation capable of withstanding judicial scrutiny and leading to successful prosecutions where warranted.
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