-Sanctions and Visa Restrictions Recommended
By Jerromie S. Walters
Washington D.C. – A Washington-based advocacy group has formally called on the United States Congress to investigate and consider imposing targeted sanctions and visa restrictions against Liberian officials and individuals implicated in the West African nation’s escalating cocaine trafficking crisis, warning that transnational cartels may have penetrated the country’s security institutions.
The Panoramic Justice Group’s urgent request for a congressional hearing follows two massive cocaine seizures in 2026 totaling over four metric tons—with an estimated street value exceeding $336 million—and raises urgent questions about the integrity of U.S.-funded security programs in Liberia, as well as potential exposure of American financial systems to narcotics proceeds.
In a letter addressed to Congressman Christopher H. Smith, the organization emphasized that where credible evidence establishes a United States nexus, American authorities should consider financial investigations, asset tracing, money-laundering inquiries, and other lawful measures including targeted sanctions or visa restrictions against those found to have facilitated or profited from the trafficking networks.
The group stressed that such measures should only be applied where statutory requirements are satisfied, but urged Congress to ensure that individuals occupying sensitive positions within Liberia’s security structure are not insulated from legitimate scrutiny simply because of their rank.
The call for sanctions comes as the group outlined alarming details of the June and August 2026 seizures. In June, approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine reportedly valued at more than $19 million were intercepted at Roberts International Airport. Approximately six weeks later, Liberian authorities recovered nearly four metric tons—3,971 kilograms—reportedly valued at approximately $317 million in Duazon.
The magnitude and proximity of these seizures, the group argued, raise concerns that extend well beyond isolated narcotics cases. Nearly four metric tons of cocaine requires substantial financing, international transportation, communications, storage, security, and logistical support. The central question, the letter states, is therefore not merely who physically handled the cocaine, but who financed, organized, owned, protected, and intended to profit from these shipments.
Of particular concern are publicly reported allegations and government actions involving personnel occupying sensitive positions within Liberia’s security structure. Individuals reportedly implicated, charged, dismissed, suspended, or investigated have included personnel associated with the Liberia National Police, National Security Agency, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Roberts International Airport, criminal investigations and intelligence, INTERPOL, and highway patrol. Notable cases include the Chief of the LNP Highway Patrol accused of facilitating cocaine transport using police vehicles, a senior police officer charged in connection with alleged escorts, the Commissioner of Police for Criminal Investigation, Intelligence and INTERPOL reportedly dismissed, the Deputy Director for Administration of the National Security Agency reportedly dismissed, and multiple security officials at Roberts International Airport dismissed or suspended.
The group emphasized that these allegations do not establish criminal guilt and that Congress should not prejudge any individual. Collectively, however, they raise a serious institutional question: whether transnational narcotics organizations have penetrated elements of Liberia’s security apparatus, and if so, how extensive that penetration is.
Additional concerns arise from the reported Royesville investigation, in which prosecutors have alleged the use of fishing operations and maritime routes to bring cocaine ashore from the Atlantic. According to publicly reported accounts of the Liberian prosecution, foreign suspects allegedly established what appeared to be a fishing operation along the Po River in Royesville as a cover for cocaine trafficking. Prosecutors reportedly alleged that cocaine arriving from the Atlantic was transferred to canoes or smaller craft, brought ashore, and transported inland.
If substantiated, this would indicate organized maritime infrastructure involving vessels, property, transportation, communications, financing, and security. Questions have also arisen concerning the IB Atlantic IV, reportedly a Comoros-flagged vessel operating off Grand Cape Mount, which Liberian authorities reportedly sought to investigate before it departed Liberian waters, and which the government later announced Ivorian authorities had detained.
These developments also follow earlier public allegations by former Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency Deputy Director General for Administration Gwee K. Porkpah that senior government officials were involved in Liberia’s illicit drug trade. Porkpah and other senior LDEA officials were subsequently dismissed for stated administrative reasons.
The group urged Congress to ask whether his allegations were subjected to a credible independent investigation and what findings resulted, noting that dismissal of an official making allegations does not itself resolve whether the allegations were substantiated or unfounded.
The United States has invested substantial taxpayer resources in Liberia’s democratic institutions, security sector, border management, rule of law, and economic development. The group noted that Liberia has been a leading recipient of U.S. aid in Africa over the past two decades and that Congress appropriated more than $5 billion in post-war aid and assistance related to the Ebola response.
Congress therefore has a legitimate oversight interest in determining whether U.S.-supported institutions are adequately protected against penetration or exploitation by transnational criminal organizations, and whether U.S.-funded equipment, training, or assistance may have benefited compromised structures or personnel.
There are also potential questions of direct U.S. jurisdiction. The group urged Congress to determine whether narcotics proceeds or related transactions moved through U.S. banks or correspondent banking systems, whether U.S.-dollar transactions, companies, financial accounts, communications systems, or persons were involved, and whether U.S.-funded equipment, training, or assistance may have benefited compromised structures or personnel.
The group requested that an appropriate House committee or subcommittee convene a hearing and receive testimony from relevant representatives of the Department of State, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Department of the Treasury, and other appropriate agencies, together with qualified regional experts and credible Liberian civil-society representatives.
Three parallel responses were recommended: an independent international investigation capable of following the drugs, money, businesses, communications, beneficial ownership, security connections, and chain of command; an independent Liberian citizens commission to promote public confidence and institutional accountability; and a comprehensive security-sector integrity review of Liberia’s police, narcotics enforcement, intelligence, immigration, customs, airport, and maritime institutions.
The group further urged that where credible evidence establishes a U.S. nexus, appropriate American authorities should consider financial investigations, asset tracing, money-laundering inquiries, and other lawful measures, including targeted sanctions or visa restrictions where statutory requirements are satisfied.
The organization concluded by stating it is not asking Congress to presume that allegations are true or that any individual is guilty, but rather to ensure that extraordinary narcotics seizures involving hundreds of millions of dollars receive credible, independent scrutiny extending beyond couriers and operational-level participants to the financiers, organizers, beneficial owners, money launderers, security facilitators, and others who may stand behind them.
The governing principle, the group emphasized, should remain: follow the drugs, follow the money, follow the businesses, follow the communications, follow the security connections, and follow the chain of command.
