MONROVIA – The Alternative National Congress has demanded a transparent investigation following revelations that a massive drug smuggling operation successfully moved illicit substances through Roberts International Airport, the country’s primary gateway.
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed that illegal drugs worth an estimated US$19 million entered the country through the airport approximately one week ago, prompting the opposition party to question the integrity of Liberia’s national security, customs, and border control systems.
In a statement released June 14, the ANC described the incident as “a direct assault on the security of the Liberian people” and warned that drug trafficking continues to destroy communities, endanger young people, fuel organized crime, and undermine public confidence in state institutions.
“The apparent ability of such a significant quantity of illegal drugs to enter the country through a major port of entry points to alarming vulnerabilities that demand immediate attention,” the party said.
The ANC has called for a swift, independent, and comprehensive investigation into every aspect of the smuggling operation, insisting that the Liberian people deserve answers to critical questions.
Among the party’s demands, the ANC urged the LDEA to immediately disclose the names of all individuals—irrespective of political affiliation—who have been arrested, charged, identified as suspects, or otherwise linked to the trafficking operation.
“Silence, secrecy, and selective disclosure will only deepen public suspicion and erode confidence in the government’s commitment to fighting narcotics trafficking,” the statement warned.
The party further cautioned against any attempt to shield powerful individuals, suppress evidence, or politicize the investigative process, stressing that “the law must apply equally to all persons, regardless of status, wealth, influence, or political affiliation.”
The ANC also called upon relevant authorities to provide regular public updates on the progress of the investigation and to ensure that all those found culpable are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
“Anything less would send a dangerous signal that Liberia remains vulnerable to the influence of international drug trafficking networks,” the party asserted.
