By Pewu Y. Sumo
MONROVIA – Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh has warned that Liberia faces a critical economic and social threat following the recent US$19.2 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport (RIA), cautioning that the nation must not be allowed to drift into a “narcostate.”
In an official statement released via his Facebook page following a closed-door briefing with the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and Joint Security Forces, Senator Konneh broke his silence on the June 8 bust. While acknowledging the public’s intense demand for immediate arrests, Konneh urged patience, noting that security agencies are methodically dismantling a transnational criminal network.
“Prematurely releasing sensitive information… risks compromising the investigation, undermining cooperation with international law enforcement partners, and enabling high-level financiers to escape justice,” Konneh stated.
The Senator commended President Joseph Boakai’s national address delivered earlier today, specifically praising the President’s vow that no status, title, or political connection would shield those involved.
However, Konneh sharply criticized the security apparatus for what he termed a “serious intelligence failure.” He questioned how such a massive quantity of narcotics could be smuggled across borders, repackaged, and transported to the nation’s primary airport undetected, especially considering the number of security and intelligence personnel stationed at Liberia’s borders, seaports, and airports.
While urging that the agencies be given the space to complete a thorough investigation, Konneh noted, “We strongly urge them to accelerate their work and provide timely updates to the public. Liberians deserve to know who was involved, from couriers to coordinators to masterminds, and to see them face the full weight of the law. We also expect the prosecution and our courts to treat this case with the seriousness it demands.”
“This incident is not only a security threat. It is an economic threat also,” the Gbarpolu County lawmaker warned, adding that drug trafficking undermines investor confidence, weakens the credibility of national institutions, and damages Liberia’s international reputation. “No serious investor will commit capital to a nation that appears unable to control its borders or enforce the rule of law. The perception of Liberia drifting toward a narcostate would be devastating for our economy, our financial system, and our long-term development goals.”
He further emphasized that the influx of narcotics poses a direct threat to the country’s youth. “Drug trafficking fuels addiction, violence, and the exploitation of vulnerable youth who are often recruited as couriers or street-level distributors,” Konneh said, warning that every kilogram of cocaine entering the country increases the risk of destroying young lives and destabilizing communities. “We cannot allow criminal networks to prey on our future generation.”
Concluding his statement with a definitive stance on national security, Konneh called on the judiciary and prosecutors to handle the case with absolute seriousness. “Liberia will not become a haven for drug traffickers or their Liberian accomplices,” Konneh stated. “Not now, not ever!”
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