By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – The Liberian Senate, through Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence has ordered an immediate probe into the controversial release of Michael Brown from the Monrovia Central Prison. The directive came during a Senate hearing with the Joint Security apparatus, convened to scrutinize the reported US$19 million drug trafficking case at Roberts International Airport.
Testimonies and evidence presented before the Senate raised serious concerns about Brown’s release in connection to a prior drug case, as well as his alleged involvement in the current narcotics network under investigation.
Inspector General of Police Gregory O.W. Coleman informed the hearing that Brown had previously been incarcerated at Monrovia Central Prison on separate drug-related charges but was later released. However, as investigators pursued the ongoing US$19 million trafficking case, Brown’s name resurfaced—this time as an alleged participant in the new smuggling operation.
The disclosure prompted senators to question how Brown could have been involved in further criminal activity if he was expected to still be serving a prison sentence. Further inquiry revealed that his release had been authorized by a judicial order.
In response, Pro Tempore Karnga-Lawrence instructed the Senate Committee on Judiciary to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding Brown’s release, with a report due to Plenary by next Thursday.
The probe will seek to establish the exact timeline of Brown’s release, determine whether all legal procedures were followed, and identify the judicial authority that authorized his discharge from custody.
The case has placed a national spotlight on Liberia’s escalating drug problem, which President Joseph Nyuma Boakai declared a national emergency in January 2024. An estimated 13 percent of the population engages in illicit drug use, while up to 20 percent of Liberian youth suffer from substance addiction—rates that significantly exceed global averages, driven largely by post-conflict trauma and widespread unemployment.
The current investigation stems from one of the largest drug busts in the country’s history. On June 8, 2026, authorities at Roberts International Airport intercepted 237.6 kilograms of cocaine—198 compressed plates valued at approximately US$19 million—hidden inside six cargo boxes destined for Europe aboard a Brussels Airlines flight. The discovery prompted the House of Representatives to vote unanimously to suspend the operations of GLS Menzies and Express Holding Services, the companies implicated in the smuggling chain, pending a full investigation.
Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh has publicly identified ten individuals allegedly complicit in the scheme, including airport personnel and company executives, with three suspects—including GLS CEO Paul J. King.
