Images of some officers escorting the drugs for burning/Photo by The Local Daily
-But Police IG Alleges Media Figures Received Kickbacks to Undermine Drug Fight
By Mark N. Mengonfia
In the ongoing fight against drugs, the “gatekeepers” national security of Liberia top individuals who one way or the other aided and abetted with the trafficking of harmful substances into Liberia are not suspects and will be investigated according to Precedent Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
Based on the findings of an ongoing investigation, President Boakai has ordered the immediate dismissal, suspension and investigation of several government and security officials after reviewing the latest status report on major narcotics trafficking cases.
Those ordered dismissed include Mark Egon Kuiah, deputy director for operations at Roberts International Airport (RIA); Johnny Bolar Dean, commissioner of police for criminal investigation, intelligence and INTERPOL; and Patrick Doe, deputy director for administration at the National Security Agency (NSA).
The president also recalled Patrick Komasu (702), who had been seconded to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), suspended him without pay and ordered that he be placed under investigation.
Additionally, President Boakai directed the immediate dismissal of all government employees and law enforcement officers indicted in connection with the seizure of 198 plates of processed cocaine at Roberts International Airport and the confiscation of 3,971 plates of cocaine from properties linked to two foreign nationals.
Among those dismissed are Mohammed O. Gbowrah, director of security at Roberts International Airport; Moses Jallah, deputy commander of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency at Roberts International Airport; Anthony T. Blaye; Wadell W. Kwarbo; Jammel V. Jallah, an agent of the National Security Agency; Christian L. Nyantee, an agent of the National Security Agency; Caycee Nelson, procurement director at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection; and Albenigo Janior, an agent of the National Security Agency.
Speaking to reporters before authorities destroyed the two separate cocaine seizures, Police Inspector General Gregory O.W. Coleman accused some members of the Liberian media of accepting bribes from drug trafficking networks to undermine the country’s anti-drug efforts.
“These drug trafficking organizations have unlimited resources, and we have been able to verify and establish that they have infused money into the media to change the narrative, distract key players in the investigation and sow discord,” Coleman said.
Coleman’s statement, which initially appeared to implicate the broader Liberian media, was later clarified by Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah.
“It is not possible for the entirety of the Liberian media landscape to take money from drug traffickers,” Piah said.
“What was meant is that some elements within the media community have been established through the investigation as taking money from these traffickers” Piah fine-tuned the allegation.
Since authorities seized millions of dollars’ worth of drugs in June and July, major media organizations have consistently reported on the investigations, urging the government not to handle the cases in the same manner as the controversial “US$100 million” case during the previous administration.
Among the media organizations that have extensively covered the story are FrontPage Africa, The Liberian Investigator,The Local Daily, The Analyst, The New Dawn, The Independent, The New Republic, The New Newspaper, Spoon FM, Truth FM, and DN News Liberia.
Following Coleman’s remarks, Press Union of Liberia President Julius K. Kanubah gave the police inspector general a three-day ultimatum to provide evidence supporting his allegation that drug cartels paid members of the media to distort the facts.
The Press Union of Liberia described the allegation as reckless and damaging to the credibility of Liberian journalism, warning that it would take appropriate action if no evidence is presented.
“Such a serious accusation, made during an official government briefing attended by senior security officials, must be substantiated,” Kanubah said.
Despite the ongoing investigations, the government has assured Liberians that it will do everything within its authority to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Before authorities destroyed the seized narcotics, samples from both the estimated US$19 million and US$317 million drug seizures were collected to be preserved as evidence for court proceedings.
After investigators secured the evidence, the remaining quantities of the seized drugs were destroyed in a large fire on the outskirts of Monrovia.
