The opposition Alternative National Congress (ANC) has demanded a full accountability in the ongoing drug saga. The Party has also expressed its profound outrage and unequivocal condemnation of the reported smuggling of illegal drugs through the Roberts International Airport (RIA). The leadership of Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) made the disclosure of illegal substances, which entered the country through principal international gateway approximately one week ago. The drug controversy, ANC said, has raised serious and troubling questions about the integrity of security, custom and border control system. “This incident is not merely a criminal matter, but a direct assault on the security and the well-being of our citizens.” Drug trafficking, the Party said, continues to destroy communities, endanger young people, fuel organized crime and undermine public confidence in state institutions. The apparent ability of such a significant quality of illegal drugs to enter the country through a major port of entry points to alarming vulnerabilities that demand immediate attention. The ANC therefore, calls for a swift, independent, transparent and comprehensive investigation into every aspect of this matter, the Liberian people deserve answer. They deserve to know how these drugs entered the country, who facilitated their movement, who was responsible for screening and oversight, and whether any public officials, airport personnel, security officers, or politically connected individuals were involved. “We further call Airport assigned LDEA agents to immediately disclose the names of all individuals, irrespective of political affiliation, who have been reportedly been arrested, charged, identified as suspects, or otherwise linked to this drug trafficking operation, consistent with the requirements of the law and the integrity of the ongoing investigation. The public has a right to know who is responsible for this criminal enterprise, as silence, secrecy and selective disclosure will only deepen public suspicion and erode confidence in government’s commitment to fight narcotics trafficking.”The ANC warns against any attempt to shield powerful individuals, suppress evidence, or politicize the investigative process. Liberia, ANC said, cannot afford another scandal in which accountability is sacrificed for convenience or political protection. It adds: “The law must apply equally to all persons, regardless of status, wealth, influence, or political affiliation.”
We also call upon the relevant authorities to provide regular updates on the progress of the investigation and ensure that all those found culpable are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Anything less would send a dangerous signal that Liberia remains vulnerable to the influence of international drug trafficking networks. The ANC stands firmly with the Liberian people in demanding truth, transparency and justice. Macpherson C. Marbiah writes.
