CSO Council lauds MoJ for Initial Role …maintains Position for independent investigation

Following the confirmation by the Ministry of Justice through the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) of the presence of methamphetamine in the confiscated packages of moringa leaves, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) has lauded the Ministry for its initial role in the saga. 

Liberia woke up to a damaging news on Monday, September 11, 2023 over the arrest and subsequent confiscation of drugs at the Roberts International Airport (RIA). 

In connection to the report, especially for attempting to transport the boxes suspected of containing contraband directly from the tarmac, using an unauthorized gate at the airport, Samuel Freeman, Security Manager at RIA was also arrested subsequently suspended for time indefinite as he undergoes further probe. 

As reported by local media, the boxes were intercepted by officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) assigned at the airport.

It is reported that the boxes were transported in a minibus and were escorted by Mr. Freeman, who informed the AFL officers that the consignment belonged to President George Weah’s Chief of Protocol, Ms. Nora Finda Bundo; however, Madam Bundo has since denied ownership of the boxes when contacted by the management of the airport.

Owing to the suspicious nature of the boxes, they were turned over to Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) for investigation, who then reported no traces of drugs related items in the boxes, stressing that they were all moringa tea. 

However, contrary to the revenue agency’s account, LDEA reported the detection of methamphetamine among the items. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and dangerous synthetic stimulant. 

Predicated on the different controversies surrounding confiscated boxes, especially with each agency of government providing conflicting accounts, NCSCL is urging the Liberian government to step up its investigation to lay these controversies to rest so that whosoever would-be perpetrator(s) be made to account for the damage caused to the country through a competent court of jurisdiction. NCSCL is the apex body for all civil society organizations in the country. 

The Council in a statement issued under the signature of its Chairperson, Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, maintained its position for the hiring of independent investigators to handle the matter into the damaging saga as this has serious adverse consequences on the international image of the country. 

The Council pointed out that this fresh allegation of drugs importation must be taken very seriously, as this is dangerous news for a country heading for one of the most crucial elections in history.  

“The National Civil Society Council of Liberia would like to take this time to first thank the Ministry of Justice through the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency for taking keen interest in this allegation by going beyond what was established by the LRA. From our initial calls and what is proven on the heel of different reports coming from two government’s functionaries, we are calling on the Government of Liberia to hire the services of independent investigators to work along with government’s own investigators to handle the matter. This is a situation of high magnitude because the frequency of drugs entering our country through our major ports of entries is scaring. This other matter should not be taken lightly because it poses serious threats to our electioneering process, because we cannot discuss elections without talking about peace; hence, the issue of drugs has the propensity to undermine any peaceful process. We are concerned about the electoral process because we are concerned about the peace of this country. Therefore, we are calling for an in-depth investigation into this matter void of partiality and manipulation,” said the statement.  

 “For too long, we have watched cases of similar magnitude treated with lip-service and lope warmness by the Government at the detriment of ensuring justice. We are calling on the Government of Liberia to make the world see us as serious people who are committed to upholding the rule of law. We want to see this matter reach a logical conclusion and justice would be served regardless of who is involved. This is not the time for this and it should not be treated as business as usual. Just few months ago, the government lost a landmark case involving the importation of US$100 million worth of drugs case. The outcome of this US$100 million worth of drugs case was undesirable in spite of the preponderance of evidence,” the statement furthered. 

In a bid to bring more credibility to the legal process, NCSCL is also appealing to the United States Government through its embassy near Monrovia, the European Union and ECOWAS to take keen interest in this matter so that would-be perpetrators would be brought to book to face the full weight of the law.

At the same time, NCSCL has called on the public against politicizing the matter and follow the legal process.  

The Council warned everyone involved to refrain from politicizing it since the ultimate desire of all Liberians and the international community is to get to the nitty-gritty of the matter. 

“Members of the press, the National Civil Society Council of Liberia is seriously concerned about this latest allegations of drugs entering our country, especially just few months after the arrest of biggest arrest of hugest ever consignment of narcotic substance in our country. At the same time, we also call on the public to refrain from politicizing it since the ultimate desire of all Liberians and the international community is to get the fact in this matter regardless of who is involved,” added the statement.