MONROVIA – Prominent Liberian cleric Bishop Kortu Brown has challenged state investigators to publicly identify senior government officials they say are linked to facilitating the trafficking of cocaine and other illicit drugs, warning that secrecy could undermine public confidence in Liberia’s fight against narcotics.
By Obediah Johnson, obediah.johnson@frontpageafricaonline.com
Speaking to reporters at his office in Brewerville on Sunday, August 2, Bishop Brown said investigators must move beyond broad allegations and disclose the identities of any officials implicated in the ongoing probes into the US$19.2 million and US$317 million cocaine seizures.
Last week, Liberia National Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman disclosed that some senior government officials were allegedly connected to the latest cocaine busts.
Brown argued that publicly naming those implicated—once supported by evidence—would accelerate the investigations and reassure Liberians that no one is above the law.
“It’s possible that some senior government officials are involved, and the Police Inspector General said so. If the investigators said that, who am I to say it’s not true? But we don’t want them to simply make the allegation. We want them to call names, bring out the names, accelerate the investigation process, and let Liberians know what is happening.”
He warned that Liberia risks becoming a regional drug trafficking hub if authorities fail to confront the problem with transparency and accountability.
“Ordinary Liberians are worried about their country. They don’t want Liberia to become an illegal drug shipment hub or a place where traffickers collect drugs to distribute to other countries,” Brown said.
He cautioned that the continued flow of cocaine into Liberia would ultimately flood communities with illicit drugs and further destroy the country’s youth.
Supports Investigation of Former Officials
Brown also welcomed calls to investigate former government officials allegedly linked to drug trafficking, insisting that anyone accused should cooperate fully with investigators to clear their names.
Referring to Inspector General Coleman’s remarks, Brown said it was equally possible that officials within the current Boakai-Koung administration could also be implicated if evidence warrants.
“The fight against drugs must be holistic and transparent,” he said.
“If any former officials are genuinely implicated in the investigation, let the law take its course. The fight against drugs is not a government fight or a political fight. It is a fight for our country.”
Warns Against Judicial Interference
Brown also questioned why evidence reportedly gathered by U.S.-trained drug enforcement officers during the administration of former President George Weah failed to secure convictions in the widely publicized US$100 million cocaine case.
He warned against any attempt to manipulate Liberia’s judicial system in favor of international drug cartels or their local collaborators.
“Any Liberian who supports the destruction of this country through illicit drugs must be investigated and held accountable,” he said.
Commends Boakai’s Initial Response
The clergyman praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for dismissing and suspending 13 senior officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP), the National Security Agency (NSA), and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) in connection with the ongoing cocaine investigations.
However, he urged the President to go further by ensuring that any heads of security institutions found culpable are dismissed and prosecuted.
“The President’s actions to dismiss, suspend, and order investigations are a good first step toward accountability. We must recognize that. But the investigations are not over. Whoever is found responsible—regardless of position—must be held accountable.”
Brown cautioned against punishing individuals based solely on speculation, urging authorities to allow the investigations to run their full course before reaching conclusions.
Trace the Source, Not Just the Destination
Brown also criticized investigators for focusing primarily on where the cocaine was stored or intercepted rather than identifying how the drugs entered Liberia in the first place.
He welcomed reports that security forces recently uncovered and dismantled an alleged drug trafficking entry point in Royesville but stressed that identifying all entry routes remains essential.
“What I want is for every drug operation in Liberia—whether already uncovered or not—to be exposed, those responsible investigated, and everyone involved held liable,” he said.
He warned that drug trafficking would continue to devastate Liberia’s younger generation unless traffickers and their accomplices face meaningful punishment.
Calls Police IG’s Comments About Media ‘Reckless’
Brown also strongly criticized Inspector General Coleman for alleging that some media institutions had accepted money from drug cartels to undermine the ongoing investigations.
Describing the accusation as “reckless,” Brown said blanket allegations against the media without evidence were unacceptable.
While acknowledging that some media coverage may not align with the government’s narrative, he praised the Liberian media for helping keep public attention focused on the cocaine investigations.
“I am seeing efforts by media institutions to ensure these investigations are not buried but pursued to their logical conclusion. If the Inspector General has evidence, let him produce it.”
Brown challenged Coleman to publicly present any evidence linking journalists or media institutions to drug cartels and urged media organizations to demand clarification if such evidence exists.
He further called for an investigation into reports of a suspicious vessel that recently appeared in Liberian waters near Grand Cape Mount County, while urging the public to await official findings rather than engage in speculation.
Calls for Broader Stakeholder Participation
Brown argued that allegations involving members of Liberia’s security sector have raised legitimate concerns about the credibility of the investigations.
To strengthen public confidence, he called on the government to include civil society organizations, religious leaders, and other independent stakeholders in the investigative process.
According to Brown, greater transparency and broader participation would help dispel public suspicions that investigators are concealing critical information about the cocaine cases.
“It is not too late for the government to correct the process,” he said. “Including key national stakeholders will strengthen public trust and demonstrate that the investigations are being conducted openly and without political interference.”
