The seizure of cocaine valued at approximately US$19 million at Roberts International Airport (RIA) has intensified national concerns about the scale of drug trafficking operations in Liberia, with former Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr. warning that the case may involve a much broader criminal network than currently disclosed.
Speaking during the 20th Anniversary celebration of the Ambassador George Weah Global Institute of Vocational Education in Barnesville, Kemayah called on the Government of Liberia and national security agencies to ensure complete transparency in the ongoing investigation. He stressed that all individuals connected to the alleged trafficking operation must be identified and held accountable, regardless of their social status, political affiliation, or professional position.
From an analytical perspective, Kemayah’s comments reflect growing public concern over the sophistication of transnational drug trafficking networks operating within West Africa. The former foreign minister argued that the reported seizure of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Liberia’s main international gateway raises serious questions about how such a large quantity of narcotics was able to move through critical security checkpoints.
According to Kemayah, the magnitude of the operation suggests that multiple actors may have been involved. He cautioned against limiting the investigation to a few individuals while potentially overlooking other key players who may have facilitated the movement, storage, or attempted export of the drugs.
He further described drug abuse and trafficking as one of Liberia’s most pressing social and security challenges, noting that the effects of narcotics are increasingly being felt in communities and families across the country. He emphasized that the fight against drugs requires not only law enforcement action but also national unity, institutional accountability, and public trust in the justice system.
Kemayah urged the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) to conduct a thorough and impartial investigation and to keep the public informed as the case progresses. He argued that transparency is essential if authorities are to maintain public confidence and demonstrate that no individual is above the law.
The former minister’s remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of Liberia’s capacity to combat international drug trafficking and prevent the country from being used as a transit point for narcotics destined for foreign markets. Political observers note that the outcome of the investigation could serve as a significant test of the government’s commitment to accountability, anti-drug enforcement, and institutional integrity.
As investigations continue, the central question raised by Kemayah remains unresolved: Was this an isolated criminal operation, or does the seizure expose a larger and more sophisticated network operating behind the scenes?
