NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has commended President Joseph Boakai and the country’s Joint Security for acting on findings from recent narcotics investigations, but says the massive drug seizures have exposed serious institutional failures that demand sweeping reforms.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
In a statement, the anti-corruption organization also praised the Liberian media, civil society organizations, citizens and other stakeholders for sustaining public pressure that led to the disclosure of the names of persons of interest in the ongoing investigations.
Despite welcoming the government’s actions, CENTAL cautioned that the latest drug busts revealed deep-rooted weaknesses within Liberia’s security system.
The organization said narcotics of such magnitude could not have transited Liberia without significant weaknesses or compromise at the country’s borders, seaports and airports, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of institutions responsible for combating drug trafficking.
CENTAL further noted that the developments have eroded public confidence in state institutions, citing limited official updates on the investigations and growing public suspicion about the involvement of other unnamed state and non-state actors.
Speaking on behalf of the organization, CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen said the recent dismissals of senior security officials should not be viewed as isolated disciplinary measures but as evidence of broader institutional failures.
“CENTAL applauds members of the Joint Security for pursuing the investigation and the President for acting rather than shelving the findings from these investigations. We also acknowledge the Liberian press, civil society organizations, citizens and other stakeholders whose sustained pressure compelled the disclosure of the names of persons of interest.”
Miamen argued that the scale of the drug seizures points to systemic failures within Liberia’s security architecture.
“Narcotics of such quantity do not transit a country whose borders, seaports and airports are functioning without compromise and collusive networks that make them pass. The dismissal of an airport director of security, the deputy commander of the Drug Enforcement Agency stationed at the airport, the police commissioners responsible for Criminal Investigation and INTERPOL liaison, and the deputy director of the National Security Agency is not a personal matter. It is evidence that the integrity architecture at our principal ports of entry was compromised at multiple points at the same time.”
He added that the crisis represents a failure of governance as much as a criminal enterprise.
“This is a government failure before it is a criminal one, and it will not be cured by merely removing individuals from office.”
Miamen said CENTAL remains deeply concerned that the developments have weakened public trust in institutions charged with combating illicit drugs and organized crime.
“We are deeply troubled by these developments, which give citizens every reason to have limited confidence in state institutions responsible for tackling illicit drugs and other related crimes. Inadequate updates to the public, coupled with growing suspicion of the involvement of other unnamed major state and non-state actors, present a bigger challenge that we must confront head-on.”
The organization called on the government to provide timely updates on the investigations to reassure the public that justice is being pursued.
“CENTAL calls for timely disclosure of information about the investigation and other related processes to give citizens greater hope and confidence that the system is working for them.”
The anti-corruption watchdog also urged the government to strengthen integrity within the security sector through merit-based appointments and regular personnel rotation.
“Competitive vetting of people appointed to public positions in the security sector is necessary to ensure that unscrupulous individuals have no place leading critical national institutions and processes. A culture of the rotation of officers is also key to ensuring that familiarity and other factors do not interfere with the professionalism required of persons heading strategic institutions.”
Miamen further called for broader participation in the investigation to enhance its credibility and independence.
“Additionally, we call for an inclusive investigative process that includes international partners, civil society and other national actors to give more independence to the ongoing efforts to credibly, objectively and sincerely investigate and deal with the current and future discoveries in the country.”
CENTAL’s statement comes amid growing public concern over recent high-profile narcotics seizures and the government’s ongoing efforts to identify and prosecute those allegedly involved in transnational drug trafficking operations.
