Konneh Makes New Demand In Cocaine Scandal

Gbarpolu County Senator Amara M. Konneh has intensified pressure on the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), and the Liberia National Police (LNP) to publicly disclose documents relating to vehicles reportedly acquired from the United States, and the Netherlands.

Konnneh warned that unanswered questions could damage public confidence in how the government is handling the cocaine investigation.

He spoke on Wednesday, August 26, at the relaunch of the Press Union of Liberia’s Edward Wilmot Blyden Intellectual Discourse.

Konneh raised concerns over allegations, and public speculation surrounding vehicles the cartel reportedly purchased for the LNP, and other government officials.

The event was held at the PUL headquarters on Warner Avenue in Sinkor under the theme: “Confronting Drug Trafficking: Strengthening Institutions, Advancing Accountability, and Safeguarding the Rule of Law.”

But Konneh, who chairs the Senate Committee on Audits and Public Accounts, used it, and specifically called on Justice Minister N. Oswald Tweh, and the leadership of the LNP to release all relevant procurements, and ownership records.

He demanded documentation covering approvals, payments, asset registration, and duty waivers connected to the donated vehicles.

Koneh’s intervention comes amid persistent rumors concerning police vehicles allegedly purchased from Minnesota in the United States, luxury SUVs reportedly obtained for government officials, and vehicles allegedly registered in the names of private citizens while being used by senior security officials.

Although the allegations remain subject to verification, Konneh argued that government silence could deepen suspicion further into the cocaine scam.

He called for the publication of records from the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, the General Services Agency, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the Liberia Revenue Authority.

Konneh: “The public deserves to know whether government-owned vehicles were legally procured, properly registered, and fully accounted for under the financial, and procurement systems. The Taskforce should publish in one press package all the documents.”

He insisted that transparency, rather than public relations statements, is the strongest response to allegations surrounding government assets.

He said, authorities should make available PPCC approvals, GSA asset registration documents, MFDP payment vouchers and LRA duty waivers for the vehicles in question.

Konneh warned that the controversy could have consequences beyond public criticism. He said, any failure by the authorities to clearly establish the ownership, and legal procurement of vehicles connected to security institutions could provide defense lawyers with an opportunity to question the credibility of the agencies pursuing suspects in the cocaine scandal.

“If the cars are government’s property, the documents will exonerate the police, build their credibility, and strengthen the cocaine case.”

Konneh maintained how any administrative, or legal irregularities should be immediately corrected before they become issues that could be exploited during criminal proceedings.

The demand came during a national discussion in which Tweh defended government’s anti-drug campaign, and stressed that prosecutions must be built on credible evidence, and due process.

Tweh acknowledged that public institutions must be accountable, and that legitimate scrutiny from the media, and citizens is essential to protect the rule of law.

Konneh’s challenge now places MoJ, LNP, and other government agencies under increasing pressure to match their calls for accountability with full disclosure.

As Liberia seeks to prosecute individuals allegedly connected to the largest cocaine seizures, the unresolved questions surrounding government vehicles could become another critical test of whether the institutions leading the fight are prepared to submit themselves to the same transparency, and scrutiny they demand from others.