By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Liberia Political Centrism Movement (LPCM), commonly known as The Centrism Movement, has joined growing calls for greater transparency and accountability following the recent seizure of cocaine valued at approximately US$19.2 million at Roberts International Airport (RIA), warning that the incident exposes dangerous weaknesses in Liberia’s security and border control systems.
In a statement issued Monday, June 15, 2026, the movement described the narcotics interception as more than an isolated criminal act, arguing that the scale of the shipment points to the presence of sophisticated transnational trafficking networks operating through Liberia’s ports of entry.
While commending law enforcement officers whose efforts led to the seizure, The Centrism Movement cautioned that the discovery should serve as a wake-up call for the government and the nation.
“The sheer scale of this shipment is a stark and sobering indicator that sophisticated transnational trafficking networks have identified and are actively exploiting critical vulnerabilities in Liberia’s security architecture and border oversight,” the movement stated. “This seizure is not an anomaly; it is evidence of an entrenched and organized criminal enterprise that has embedded itself within our entry points and supply chains.”
The statement comes amid increasing public scrutiny of the government’s handling of the investigation and growing demands from civil society actors for the identities of those responsible for the shipment to be disclosed.
According to the movement, the seizure highlights an escalating narcotics crisis that threatens not only national security but also the future of Liberia’s younger generation. It warned that drug trafficking and substance abuse continue to fuel addiction, crime, educational decline, and economic hardship, while destroying families and communities across the country.
Executive Chairperson Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala delivered one of the strongest warnings contained in the statement, urging President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his administration to abandon what he described as inadequate responses to the growing drug crisis.
“Drug peddling and substance abuse have become a devastating scourge that is ravaging Liberian youth and systematically destroying their futures,” Gbala said. “President Boakai and the Government of Liberia must adopt far more aggressive and stringent measures to confront this crisis head-on. Half-measures and delayed action are no longer acceptable when the lives and livelihoods of our young people hang in the balance. The time for bold, coordinated, and sustained intervention is now.”
Beyond the social consequences, The Centrism Movement warned that the seizure could have serious implications for Liberia’s international reputation and economic prospects if authorities fail to demonstrate a credible commitment to combating narcotics trafficking.
The movement argued that any perception of Liberia as a transit point for international drug trafficking could weaken investor confidence, strain diplomatic relationships, and potentially trigger adverse reactions from international partners.
“This seizure also poses a serious risk to the diplomatic and economic progress Liberia has worked diligently to achieve,” the statement noted. “Any perception of Liberia as a transit corridor or source country for narcotics will erode foreign investor confidence, strain bilateral partnerships, and may prompt punitive measures from the international community.”
The movement also expressed concern over what it described as limited public disclosure by authorities regarding persons of interest and the overall status of the investigation. It warned that secrecy surrounding a matter of such national significance could undermine public trust and weaken confidence in the government’s commitment to accountability.
“Public confidence is at a critical juncture,” the statement emphasized. “Citizens are rightfully demanding accountability, transparency, and swift justice.”
The Centrism Movement argued that opaque investigative processes risk discouraging public cooperation, exposing prosecutions to failure, and creating an environment in which traffickers can continue operating without fear of consequences.
To address these concerns, the organization called on President Boakai and the Government of Liberia to immediately launch an independent investigation supported by international partners, with findings made public within a clearly defined timeframe.
The movement also urged authorities to strengthen security measures at Roberts International Airport and all national ports of entry through the deployment of advanced detection technology, enhanced personnel training, and stronger anti-corruption safeguards.
Additionally, it called for closer collaboration with international law enforcement bodies, including INTERPOL and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), to track illicit financial networks, dismantle trafficking operations, and prosecute all individuals found to be involved, including public officials if evidence warrants.
The organization further advocated for expanded drug prevention programs, youth rehabilitation initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and stronger protections for whistleblowers as part of a broader national strategy to combat narcotics trafficking.
According to the movement, the cocaine seizure should become a turning point in Liberia’s fight against organized crime rather than another high-profile case that fades from public attention without meaningful reforms.
“The seizure at Roberts International Airport must serve as an inflection point, the catalyst for comprehensive, lasting reform,” The Centrism Movement declared. “The Government of Liberia must act with urgency, transparency, and unwavering resolve to dismantle trafficking networks, protect Liberia’s youth, and preserve the nation’s hard-earned international standing.”
