The Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL) President Emmanuel Gonquoi has warned that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s handling of the country’s latest high-profile drug case could shape both his presidency and his political future.
Commenting on the reported US$19.2 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport (RIA), Gonquoi urged the President to ensure that the investigation is free from political interference and that everyone connected to the case is held accountable.
“We ask the President to stand firm on this particular issue because failure on his part to fight drugs, we can only promise him that this will be the beginning of his one term in office as President of Liberia,” Gonquoi said.
The remarks add to mounting pressure on the government as opposition figures, civil society organizations and members of the public continue to demand a transparent investigation into what authorities have described as one of Liberia’s largest drug seizures.
Gonquoi said the administration’s response will determine whether Liberians believe the government is genuinely committed to dismantling drug trafficking networks or merely making public declarations.
He argued that the growing availability of narcotics poses a serious threat to young people and called for stronger action against those financing and facilitating the illegal trade.
“If the government has failed to fight drugs, let them contract the EFFL for one month, and drugs will no more be in Liberia,” he said.
Although he did not explain how the EFFL would carry out such an operation, Gonquoi maintained that decisive leadership—not a lack of capacity—is the missing ingredient in Liberia’s anti-drug campaign.
The reported seizure of cocaine valued at approximately US$19.2 million has sparked nationwide debate, with political parties and advocacy groups calling for an independent investigation and the prosecution of anyone found responsible, regardless of their status or political affiliation.
The Boakai administration has not publicly responded to Gonquoi’s comments. Government officials, however, have repeatedly pledged that those implicated in drug-related crimes will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
For Gonquoi, the stakes extend beyond a single criminal investigation.
He said the government’s handling of the case will serve as a measure of its commitment to fighting organized crime, protecting Liberia’s youth and restoring public confidence in state institutions.
