A tense Liberian Senate hearing marked a major escalation in the investigation into a US$19.2 million cocaine seizure intercepted three weeks ago at Roberts International Airport.
Lawmakers expressed deep frustration over the lack of immediate arrests, with Senator Abraham Darius Dillon arguing that individuals linked to the warehouse and cargo should be prosecuted immediately rather than delaying action to find the original source. Senator Samuel Kogar went further, calling on President Boakai to suspend top security officials to restore public confidence.
In response, Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman defended the pace of the inquiry, explaining that moving individuals from “persons of interest” to potential suspects requires a meticulous review of complex forensic and documentary evidence, often relying on international partners due to local capacity limits. He denied any cover-up, confirming that formal criminal charges are expected within days.
The investigation has grown from a routine narcotics bust into a sweeping probe of a potential transnational criminal enterprise, examining airport security, freight forwarding, financial records, and electronic communications. While the Ministry of Justice focuses on dismantling the broader network financing the operation, the Witness Protection Agency has urged insiders to cooperate under legal protection to map out the full chain of responsibility.
Concurrently, the Senate has launched a separate inquiry into the controversial release of Michael Browne, a previously convicted drug offender tied to the current case. As the investigation enters this consequential phase, authorities are auditing every layer of the aviation system to determine how the contraband breached security, with the ultimate goal of identifying and prosecuting the high-level figures directing the trafficking network.
ABJ/APA