Monrovia – Former presidential candidate and political leader Dr. Clarence Moniba has raised concerns over the Government of Liberia’s handling of the investigation into the seizure of more than US$19 million worth of cocaine at Roberts International Airport, arguing that authorities are applying a different standard than in previous drug-related cases.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Moniba described the drug bust as far more than a routine narcotics case, calling it a major national security issue that touches on border security, organized crime, corruption, airport operations, and the credibility of Liberia’s justice system.
“The seizure of cocaine valued at more than US$19 million at the Roberts International Airport is not an ordinary drug case,” Moniba said. “It is a major national security matter.”
The former presidential hopeful said Liberians are demanding answers and accountability, insisting that all individuals connected to the operation, regardless of their social status or political influence, must face justice.
His comments come amid growing public debate over the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency’s decision to withhold the identities of suspects and other details surrounding the investigation. Authorities have maintained that releasing information prematurely could compromise ongoing investigations and affect evidence-gathering efforts.
While acknowledging that such an explanation may appear reasonable, Moniba argued that the government’s position raises serious questions about consistency.
“For years, Liberians have witnessed the names, photographs, and identities of drug suspects being publicly released almost immediately after arrest,” he noted. “Ordinary citizens have been identified. Poor citizens have been identified. Young people have been publicly displayed.”
He questioned why authorities are now invoking confidentiality concerns in what he described as one of Liberia’s largest cocaine seizures in recent history.
“If this new standard is necessary, why was it not applied in previous cases?” Moniba asked. “If silence protects investigations, why did silence not protect previous investigations?”
According to Moniba, the issue is not political but one of fairness and equal treatment under the law.
“The Government cannot apply one standard to ordinary Liberians and another standard when powerful interests may be involved,” he said. “That is not justice. That is selective law enforcement.”
Moniba stressed that he was not calling for the release of information that could jeopardize witnesses, evidence, or international cooperation. Instead, he said the government must explain why procedures appear to have changed in this particular case.
He warned against a scenario in which lower-level actors are prosecuted while financiers, facilitators, and politically connected individuals evade scrutiny.
“This case must not become another situation where small names are sacrificed while powerful actors remain protected,” he stated.
The government has repeatedly assured the public that no one will be shielded from investigation. Moniba welcomed those assurances but argued that public confidence can only be maintained through visible actions.
“Public trust is not built through press releases,” he said. “It is built when institutions demonstrate fairness, consistency, and impartiality.”
Moniba called on the Government of Liberia, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Ministry of Justice, and the Joint Security Team to provide a comprehensive update on the status of the investigation, including information on arrests, ongoing manhunts, and efforts to identify financiers and institutional enablers linked to the alleged trafficking network.
“The Liberian people are not asking for politics,” he said. “They are asking for justice. They are asking for accountability. They are asking for equal treatment. They are asking for the truth.”
Describing the case as a critical test of Liberia’s institutions, Moniba warned that prolonged silence risks undermining confidence in the justice system.
“This US$19 million cocaine case is a test of national integrity,” he said. “It is a test of whether our justice system serves the law equally or whether different rules apply to different people.”
He concluded with a direct appeal to authorities: “Liberia deserves answers.”
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