By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Liberia National Police (LNP) Inspector General Gregory Coleman has disclosed that both institutions and individuals are under active investigation and could face criminal charges within days in connection with the country’s record-breaking US$19.2 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport (RIA). Speaking before the Liberian Senate on Wednesday, July 1, Coleman said investigators have made significant progress but cautioned that releasing sensitive details at this stage could compromise the ongoing probe.
Appearing before the Senate alongside members of the Joint Security architecture and national security advisers, Coleman defended the pace of the investigation, explaining that the complexity of the case requires careful examination of documentary records, forensic evidence, and intelligence gathered from multiple sources.
“There are things that we’re still working on together that are not yet declassified, and discussing them now would compromise everything,” Coleman told senators. “At this point in time, the only thing I can say is that we’ve made significant progress. We are at the stage where we have moved people from being persons of interest to potential suspects who could be charged within a few days.”
The Police Chief further revealed that investigators have expanded the scope of the inquiry beyond individual suspects, confirming that several institutions have also come under scrutiny as authorities work to uncover the full network behind the attempted shipment.
“From the last time we appeared before this body until today, we have made significant progress. We have institutions under suspicion, and we have persons under suspicion at this point in time who will be charged within the coming days,” he said.
Coleman emphasized that the investigation involves far more than identifying those directly linked to the seized narcotics. According to him, investigators are tracing financiers, facilitators, logistical networks, and possible internal accomplices who may have enabled the shipment to pass through one of Liberia’s most critical security installations.
He acknowledged that Liberia lacks some of the specialized technical capacity required for such a sophisticated investigation and said authorities are working closely with international partners while coordinating around the clock to analyze documentary and forensic evidence.
Seeking to reassure lawmakers and the public, Coleman dismissed suggestions that investigators were withholding information or attempting to shield anyone connected to the case.
“We can assure you that there’s nothing we’re hiding. The chips will fall where they may because this investigation concerns the future of this country,” he declared.
The Inspector General also disclosed that members of the investigative team who leaked confidential information to the public had been removed from the investigation in an effort to protect the integrity of the case.
Despite those assurances, senators continued pressing Joint Security officials over the pace of the investigation, demanding greater clarity on timelines, evidence handling, and measures being implemented to prevent future breaches at Roberts International Airport.
Coleman apologized to the Senate for the delay in concluding the investigation, describing the probe as transparent and comprehensive while appealing for additional time to complete the process.
“The prolonged investigation is due to the complexity of the case,” he explained. “The seized drugs are not linked to a single individual, and investigators are working to establish all parties connected to the matter.”
The unprecedented seizure has intensified national concern over how cocaine with an estimated street value of US$19.2 million was allegedly able to pass through Liberia’s principal international gateway before being intercepted by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) on June 8, 2026.
The case has sparked widespread debate about possible weaknesses in Liberia’s border security system, the effectiveness of airport screening procedures, and the possibility of internal complicity within public institutions.
The Senate hearing also exposed growing tensions surrounding the investigation.
During the proceedings, Nimba County Senator Samuel Kogar called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to suspend Inspector General Coleman, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald Biago, and officials of the National Security Agency (NSA), arguing that such action was necessary to ensure the credibility of the investigation.
“President Boakai must suspend Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, LDEA Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald Biago, and officials of the National Security Agency. That is the only way this investigation will be taken seriously. The Inspector General is shielding people here,” Kogar asserted.
Coleman immediately challenged the allegation, asking the senator whether he possessed evidence to support the accusation.
“Do you have evidence, Mr. Senator? You just talked loosely here,” the Inspector General responded.
The exchange quickly escalated, prompting Senator Kogar to object publicly before fellow senators intervened.
Approximately five minutes later, members of the Senate instructed Coleman to apologize for his remarks, and the Police Chief complied.
“Honorable Kogar, I want to apologize to you,” Coleman said before the hearing resumed.
The Senate’s decision to summon the Joint Security followed a joint communication submitted by Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe and Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh, requesting legislative intervention and an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the massive drug seizure.
In their communication, the lawmakers warned that the incident carries significant implications for Liberia’s national security, international reputation, and efforts to combat transnational organized crime. They urged that the investigation be conducted in a transparent, impartial, and credible manner to ensure that every individual connected to the alleged drug trafficking operation is identified and held accountable under the law.
While some senators acknowledged the complexity of the investigation and accepted the need for a thorough inquiry, others cautioned that prolonged delays risk undermining public confidence in Liberia’s justice and security institutions.
The Senate has instructed the Joint Security to return in the coming days with additional updates as lawmakers continue their oversight of what has become one of the country’s most consequential criminal investigations in recent history.
With Coleman confirming that both institutions and individuals remain under active investigation and promising that criminal charges are imminent, public attention is now focused on whether the probe will ultimately expose the full network behind the US$19.2 million cocaine seizure and demonstrate that accountability will be pursued regardless of status, office, or political affiliation.
