The Political Leader of the opposition Movement for Progress Change (MPC) Simeon Freeman has accused President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of benefiting from the US$19.2 million drugs arrested on June 9, 2026, at the Roberts International Airport.
Appearing on a local radio station (Okay FM) yesterday, Mr. Freeman accused President Boakai of being aware of the presence of the drugs and, in fact, benefiting from the drug money. He alleged that money from the drug sale was used on the controversial Foya presidential projects.
According to Freeman, President Boakai loves money and is benefiting from drug money. The MPC political leader further accused the Liberian leader, his Justice Minister, and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) boss of being part of the cartel.
The Government of Liberia has been investigating the presence of the huge consignment of narcotic substances with the arrest and forwarding to court of some of the suspects. The Liberian National Police recently forwarded to court Mr. Paul Jamaal King and several co-defendants in the alleged US$19.2 million cocaine trafficking case, ordering that the matter be forwarded to Criminal Court “C” for trial after an indictment is drawn by Criminal Court “A.”
In early June 2026, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) intercepted a massive shipment of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at the Roberts International Airport (RIA). The drugs, packed in six cargo boxes with an estimated street value of over US$19 million, were discovered on June 8, 2026, hidden among goods destined for export. The seizure has escalated into a high-level, transnational criminal investigation coordinated by the National Security Council. Key details of the bust and ensuing probe include:
The LDEA determined that the cocaine initially arrived in 10 boxes before four were flown out of the country, leaving the six boxes to be seized during a security check before they could be loaded onto a Brussels Airlines flight.
The investigation involves several airport personnel and logistics staff. Paul J. King, an Operations Manager at Global Logistics Services (GLS), was brought before the Monrovia City Court to determine if there is probable cause to indict him in connection with the shipment. Security officers and Executive Protection Service (EPS) personnel.
The LDEA and the Ministry of Justice have faced mounting public pressure and scrutiny from the Liberian Parliament to release the full identities of all masterminds and individuals involved in the drug ring. Recently, ANC Political Leader Alexander Cummings accused the Liberian Government of dragging its feet on the investigation and called on international partners to help with the investigation.
But despite pressure from opposition politicians and civil society groups in the country over what they referred to as a delay in investigating the US$19.2 million drugs case, veteran Liberian Lawyer Arthur Johnson urged the Liberian Government not to be pressured by politicians in conducting the probe.
Cllr. Johnson urged the government not to be pressured by politicians but to conduct a thorough investigation into the drug saga. He noted, “Conduct your investigation thoroughly and follow the evidence. Do not be swayed by sentiments regarding who is involved or not. An investigation is a systematic process, not a single event. Do not be influenced by political pressure to make arrests or go to court. Take your time and carry out your work in accordance with procedural due process.”
On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Monrovia City Court Magistrate L. Ben Barco ruled that prosecutors established probable cause against Paul Jamaal King and several co-defendants in the alleged US$19.2 million cocaine trafficking case, ordering that the matter be forwarded to Criminal Court “C” for trial after an indictment is been drawn by Criminal Court “A”.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, followed the conclusion of the preliminary examination, during which Magistrate Barco considered whether the prosecution had presented sufficient evidence to justify a full criminal trial.
