-New Images Intensify Debate Over VP Koung’s Relationship with Anthony Deinuka as Supporters Reject Allegations and Call for Evidence-Based Investigation
Emmanuel Wise Jipoh contributed to this story
MONROVIA – What began as a controversy over a single photograph has evolved into one of the most politically charged side stories surrounding Liberia’s ongoing US$19.2 million cocaine trafficking investigation, with newly circulated photographs and social media allegations fueling fresh debate over Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung’s relationship with Liberia Football Association (LFA) Executive Committee member Anthony Deinuka.
While neither the Vice President nor Deinuka has been charged or publicly named by investigators as suspects in the case, the emergence of multiple photographs appearing to show the two men together at various occasions has intensified public discussion and prompted both political allies and critics to sharpen their positions.
At the center of the controversy is a series of photographs shared on social media showing Koung and Deinuka together at what appear to be official meetings, political gatherings, private engagements, and social functions over an extended period.
The images surfaced days after Vice President Koung publicly rejected suggestions that he had any meaningful relationship with Deinuka, following claims made by FrontPage Africa publisher Rodney Sieh during a Spoon TV appearance.
From One Photograph to Several
Initially, criticism centered on a single group photograph showing Vice President Koung standing alongside Deinuka and several other individuals.
Responding on July 6, the Vice President dismissed attempts to associate him with the ongoing drug investigation because of that image.
“As Vice President, I do take photos with many individuals at public and private events. I do not know Anthony, and the photo taken does not suggest my knowledge of any personal dealings he may be involved with,” Koung stated.
However, within days, additional photographs began circulating online.
The newly shared images appear to depict Koung and Deinuka together on several different occasions, including what critics describe as private meetings, political events, personal greetings, and visits to the Vice President’s office and residence.
The photographs have since become the subject of intense public debate.
Critics argue that the additional images raise legitimate questions about the extent of the relationship between the two men.
Supporters, however, insist that repeated photographs do not establish criminal conduct and should not be mistaken for evidence of involvement in an international drug trafficking operation.
Social Media Allegations Escalate Political Tensions
The controversy intensified further after social media activist Foday N. Massaquoi published a lengthy Facebook post claiming that the newly surfaced photographs contradict Vice President Koung’s earlier statement.
In the post, Massaquoi alleged that Deinuka was more than simply an individual who happened to take a picture with the Vice President, asserting instead that the two had interacted on numerous occasions over several years.
He further alleged that Deinuka had been politically active in support of Koung and maintained a close personal relationship with the Vice President.
Massaquoi also claimed that the photographs demonstrated familiarity between the two men and called for an independent international investigation into the matter.
However, none of those allegations has been independently substantiated by investigators, and no law enforcement agency has publicly linked Vice President Koung to the cocaine investigation.
Supporters Push Back
As criticism mounted, the Rescue Intellectual Brigade (RIB) issued a strongly worded statement defending the Vice President.
The organization accused Rodney Sieh of attempting to tarnish Koung’s reputation through speculation rather than evidence.
According to the Brigade, public officials routinely interact with thousands of citizens, supporters, civil servants, businesspeople, and political actors, making it unreasonable to infer criminal conduct simply because photographs exist.
“The Vice President is accessible to thousands of Liberians from all walks of life. It is therefore unfair and unreasonable to associate him with alleged criminal activities solely because of a photograph,” the organization stated.
The Brigade further warned against what it described as reckless attempts to politicize an active criminal investigation and said it would pursue lawful means to defend the Vice President’s integrity if what it characterized as defamatory attacks continued.
Anthony Deinuka Also Responds
Anthony Deinuka has also categorically denied being connected to the investigation.
In a separate statement, the LFA Executive Committee member said he has never been arrested, invited for questioning, interrogated, or contacted by the Liberia National Police (LNP), the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), or any other security institution regarding the cocaine case.
He further denied having any criminal, financial, or business relationship with individuals publicly identified by investigators.
Deinuka also clarified reports regarding his previous employment at Roberts International Airport.
According to him, he resigned from his position there in 2019 and has had no official role at the airport since.
He maintained that attempts to connect him to the investigation through his former employment are false and misleading.
A Political Storm Around a Criminal Investigation
The controversy illustrates how rapidly a major criminal investigation can evolve into a broader political contest.
The cocaine case has already generated calls for accountability from lawmakers, civil society organizations, and international partners.
Now, it has also become the subject of competing narratives on social media, where photographs, personal associations, and political affiliations are increasingly being scrutinized.
Political analysts note that photographs may establish acquaintance or familiarity, but they do not, by themselves, establish criminal liability.
Whether the relationship between Koung and Deinuka is casual, political, personal, or professional is separate from the legal question of whether either individual participated in criminal conduct.
Under Liberian law, that determination rests solely with investigators and the courts.
Boakai’s Warning: ‘Nobody Will Be Spared’
As public debate continues, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has repeatedly sought to assure Liberians that the investigation will proceed without political interference.
Reacting to the seizure, the President declared that his administration would pursue everyone involved regardless of status or political affiliation.
“You heard about the US$19 million drugs that were seized here. We need to make people understand that this is something we’re not going to just overlook. No matter who is involved, what position you hold, nobody will be spared,” President Boakai warned.
The President stressed that Liberia cannot afford to allow narcotics trafficking to undermine national security or destroy the country’s international reputation.
Government Challenges Critics to Produce Evidence
The Ministry of Information has also weighed in on the controversy.
Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah recently challenged individuals who claim to possess evidence implicating senior government officials to present that evidence to investigators rather than relying on public accusations.
“If you have information that links an actor in government—whether it is a minister, a managing director, or even family members of senior government officials—we encourage you not just to share it with us, but to share it with our international partners as well because they are involved in this investigation,” Piah said.
The government maintains that the investigation is being conducted jointly with international partners and insists that no individual will be shielded if credible evidence establishes criminal involvement.
The Investigation Continues
The political controversy continues as prosecutors press ahead with criminal proceedings arising from the interception of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine, valued at about US$19.2 million, at Roberts International Airport.
Several individuals, including Paul Jamaal King, Operations Manager of Global Logistics Services (GLS), have already been charged under Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
Authorities say investigations remain active as they work to identify everyone allegedly connected to what they describe as a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking network.
For now, the photographs have undeniably intensified political debate.
Whether they ultimately prove relevant to the criminal investigation, however, will depend not on public opinion or social media commentary, but on evidence gathered by investigators and tested before Liberia’s courts.
Until then, the controversy surrounding Vice President Koung and Anthony Deinuka remains as much a political battle over perception as it is a legal question awaiting factual determination.
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