By Jamesetta D. Williams
MONROVIA-Former Chief of Staff Eugene Lenn Nagbe has urged Liberian government to further explain about the drugs recently seized, arguing that the figures announced by authorities are inconsistent with previous cases and require a clear explanation.
Speaking on OK FM, Nagbe compared the recent seizure of 237 kilograms of cocaine, which the government valued at approximately US$19.2 million, with a drug bust during the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration.
According to Nagbe, authorities under the CDC government seized about 500 kilograms of cocaine, which was estimated to be worth nearly US$100 million. He questioned why the current Unity Party-led government has placed a significantly lower value on the latest seizure despite the substantial quantity involved.
“The government must explain how it arrived at this valuation,” Nagbe said, suggesting that the figures do not appear to be consistent with previous estimates.
Nagbe also made stronger allegations regarding the country’s fight against drug trafficking.
“There is a clear collusion of government complicity with the continued cocaine proliferation across Liberia. It shows the cartel is entrenched,” he alleged during the radio interview.
His comments come amid growing public debate over Liberia’s response to transnational drug trafficking following recent high-profile cocaine seizures and the arrest of foreign nationals linked to the alleged smuggling operations.
The government has not publicly responded to Nagbe’s claims. However, authorities have repeatedly maintained that they remain committed to combating drug trafficking through coordinated operations involving national security agencies.
Nagbe’s remarks are likely to fuel further discussion over the government’s anti-drug efforts and the transparency of official valuations placed on seized narcotics.
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