By Lincoln G. Peters
MONROVIA, July 7, 2026: Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung has rejected attempts to link him to individuals reportedly connected to the US$19.2 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport, insisting that appearing in a photograph with someone does not establish a personal relationship or involvement in alleged wrongdoing.
The Vice President’s response follows public questions over photographs showing him with individuals whose names have reportedly surfaced in connection with the ongoing drug investigation.
Over the weekend, Liberian publisher Rodney Sieh called on Vice President Koung to publicly explain his relationship with individuals reportedly linked to the investigation.
Speaking on Prime Time Liberia, Sieh stressed that he was not accusing the Vice President of involvement in drug trafficking but argued that the photographs and reported associations had raised legitimate public questions requiring clarification.
“We’re not saying anybody is involved in drugs. We’re not saying anyone is trying to traffic drugs. But when something like this happens in Liberia, and you’re the vice president, and photographs surface showing people associated with you, I think Liberians deserve to know how close you are to those individuals,” Sieh said.
Sieh said Liberians had been drawing connections between the Vice President and individuals reportedly linked to the investigation, including Tony and Michael Brown. He urged Koung to clearly explain the nature of any relationship with them and distance himself from alleged wrongdoing if he had no connection to the case.
Responding to claims that he was associated with a man identified as Anthony, who appeared with him in a group photograph and has allegedly been linked to drug-related activities, Vice President Koung said he did not know the individual.
“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 said.
The Vice President reiterated his earlier position that anyone connected to illegal drug activities should face prosecution, regardless of their relationship with him.
“As I stated when Clifford Payne, an official of the Group of 77, was arrested on November 24, 2025, in connection with allegations arising from a suspected drug case, I still maintain that if my wife, children, relatives, friends, political associates, and employees are connected to any drug-related activities, they should face the full weight of the law,” he said.
Meanwhile, Yeakeh Sayequee, Operations Manager at the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company and a close ally and foster son of Vice President Koung, has also dismissed attempts to associate the Vice President with the drug investigation based on photographs.
In a Facebook post on Monday, July 6, 2026, Sayequee described the controversy as unreasonable, arguing that the Vice President routinely takes photographs with numerous people because of his public office.
“Liberia is really a funny country. How does taking a picture with someone automatically mean you’re connected to that person?” Sayequee wrote.
He argued that a photograph alone could not prove a personal relationship and urged the public not to draw conclusions based on a single image, emotion or political dislike.
“We all need to be careful not to draw conclusions based solely on a single picture, emotions or because you don’t like the person. We have to stop this nonsense in this country,” he said.
