Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah has blamed the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration for Liberia’s growing drug problem, saying those now criticizing the government were in power when the country became a transit point for narcotics.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing on Thursday, Minister Piah said the Boakai administration would handle the matter differently from previous cases and insisted that no one would be protected.
“This administration is not the administration that was here before. This investigation will not resemble what we saw with the US$100 million drug seizure in this same country,” he said.
He criticized some former officials and political actors who have recently staged protests and questioned the government’s handling of the case.
“Those political actors who were here yesterday and made this place an open haven for drugs cannot be the ones running around to lecture us. Let’s give the investigation a chance,” Piah added.
According to the minister, the case involves an international drug network and Liberia was only being used as a transit point.
“The crime that was taking place is a transnational crime. Liberia was not the destination of the drugs. Liberia was just being used as a transit,” he said.
Piah also dismissed suggestions that the investigation could be manipulated, noting that international partners are involved.
“You have an assurance from our government that no one will be shielded. For anyone to think that this investigation can be compromised or that certain people will be protected, how possible could that be with the involvement of our international partners?”
His comments come as debate continues over the government’s response to the drug seizure and calls from opposition figures for greater transparency.
The investigation is ongoing.
