By Edwin N. Khakie
MONROVIA, Liberia, Aug. 3, 2026 – Senator Amara M. Konneh has welcomed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s decision to dismiss and suspend security and port officials linked to ongoing narcotics investigations but says the measures must be followed by efforts to identify and prosecute the alleged masterminds behind Liberia’s largest drug trafficking cases.
In a public statement issued amid growing concern over the country’s escalating drug crisis, Konneh described the President’s actions as an important step toward restoring public confidence and strengthening the integrity of state institutions.
However, he cautioned that removing only low- and mid-level officials would not be sufficient to dismantle what he characterized as a sophisticated transnational criminal network.
According to the senator, the scale of the multibillion-dollar cocaine shipments recently intercepted by Liberian authorities suggests the involvement of well-financed criminal syndicates operating with protection at senior levels.
He argued that investigators must follow the evidence wherever it leads, regardless of political affiliation or official position.
“The government must go after the big players,” Konneh said. “Justice must be impartial, and no one, regardless of their position in the current government or ties to the past, should be shielded by political convenience or bureaucratic delays.”
Konneh called for transparent prosecutions and urged investigators to pursue influential local brokers, financiers, and any current or former government officials found to have facilitated or protected drug trafficking operations.
He also referenced ongoing investigations involving former officials that, according to the Inspector General of Police, remain under review.
The senator said Liberia’s drug crisis extends beyond law enforcement and poses a serious threat to national security, public health, and the country’s international reputation.
He warned that illicit drug trafficking continues to endanger young people while undermining democratic governance and economic development.
Konneh stressed that the recent dismissals and suspensions should not become symbolic actions but should instead lead to the prosecution of those who organize, finance, and profit from the illicit trade.
“We must follow the evidence all the way to the top and hold the key masterminds and senior policymakers fully accountable,” he said.
His comments come as Liberia continues investigations into two of the country’s largest cocaine seizures, a US$317.68 million seizure in Duazon, Margibi County, and an earlier US$19.2 million interception at Roberts International Airport, both of which have intensified public calls for transparency and accountability.
Concluding his statement, Konneh urged President Boakai to move swiftly in dismantling the criminal networks behind the drug shipments.
“More action is needed, and quickly, Mr. President,” he said.
