NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has ordered an immediate and comprehensive investigation into allegations surrounding the Officer-in-Charge of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitzgerald T. M. Biago, as mounting public scrutiny puts Liberia’s anti-drug campaign under renewed pressure.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The President’s directive came Saturday, August 8, following a communication from Justice Minister and Attorney General concerning Biago’s decision to recuse himself from the leadership of the LDEA amid emerging allegations involving a pickup truck reportedly linked to a narcotics suspect or alleged trafficker.
According to the Executive Mansion, President Boakai has instructed the Minister of Justice to conduct a “comprehensive and impartial investigation” into the allegations and all circumstances surrounding the matter.
The Minister has been given 48 hours to submit a detailed report to the President.
The investigation comes at a sensitive time for Liberia’s security sector, which has faced intense public scrutiny following a series of major narcotics investigations and seizures, as well as allegations of possible weaknesses or compromise within institutions responsible for combating drug trafficking.
President Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to fighting illegal drugs, organized crime and corruption, stressing that no individual or institution is above the law.
The President further directed that the investigation be conducted thoroughly and objectively, with the process guided solely by the facts.
The Executive Mansion said the President will review the findings once the report is submitted and determine what further action is necessary in the interest of justice, accountability and the Liberian people.
Biago Recuses Himself
The controversy intensified after Biago formally announced his recusal from his active duties and functions as head of the LDEA.
In his communication to the Justice Minister, Biago said the decision was intended to preserve the integrity, transparency and public trust of Liberia’s national anti-drug campaign while allowing an unhindered administrative and security investigation.
The recusal follows public allegations and social media reports concerning a pickup truck allegedly connected to a narcotics suspect or trafficker and reportedly seen at the LDEA OIC’s office.
The allegations have generated questions about the circumstances surrounding the vehicle and whether there was any improper connection between the LDEA leadership and individuals under narcotics investigation.
No finding of wrongdoing against Biago has been announced, and the investigation is expected to establish the facts and determine whether any laws, regulations or security protocols were violated.
CENTAL Calls for Broader Investigation
While welcoming the President’s swift response, the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) says the government must go further if it wants the investigation to restore public confidence.
CENTAL Executive Director Anderson Miamen said public trust in Liberia’s security sector is currently “very limited,” making inclusiveness and independence critical to the credibility of the investigation.
Miamen welcomed the President’s decision and expressed confidence in the Minister of Justice’s ability to conduct the inquiry.
However, he argued that the investigation should not be left solely to the Ministry of Justice.
He recommended that the Ministry work alongside the Liberia National Bar Association, independent civil society organizations, a media representative, the Female Lawyers Association of Liberia and the Inter-Religious Council to examine the matter.
According to Miamen, the involvement of these institutions would not suggest that the Justice Ministry lacks the capacity to investigate.
Instead, he said, their participation would strengthen the process by making it more inclusive, independent and credible.
He suggested that, since the President’s directive did not establish such a multi-stakeholder mechanism, the Minister of Justice should, “in good faith,” invite representatives of the proposed institutions to participate in the investigation.
Pressure Mounts on Anti-Drug Campaign
The latest controversy adds another layer of pressure to Liberia’s already embattled fight against narcotics trafficking.
With the country recently rocked by major drug seizures and growing concerns over the ability of security institutions to prevent the movement of narcotics through Liberia, the investigation into the LDEA leadership is likely to face intense public scrutiny.
For the Boakai administration, the 48-hour deadline now puts the Justice Ministry under pressure to produce an investigation that is not only fast, but also convincing enough to withstand public and institutional scrutiny.
The central question is no longer simply who was associated with the vehicle at the LDEA office, but whether the incident exposes deeper vulnerabilities within Liberia’s national drug enforcement system.
The President has made clear that the outcome of the investigation will determine the next course of action.
For a public increasingly demanding accountability from the security sector, the expectation is equally clear: the investigation must establish the facts, identify responsibility where wrongdoing is found, and leave no room for political protection or institutional cover.
