By Staff Writer | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has suspended National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL) Board Member Peter Malcolm King with immediate effect, pending his connection to an ongoing investigation into the seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
The Executive Mansion announced the decision on Monday, June 22, 2026, describing the action as an administrative measure taken after briefing from the Ministry of Justice and the Joint National Security Investigation Team, which reportedly identified entities associated with King for further scrutiny.
According to the government, the suspension is intended to safeguard the integrity of the investigation, prevent interference, and maintain public confidence in state institutions as authorities work to establish the full facts surrounding the major drug seizure.
Officials stressed that the action does not constitute a finding of guilt against King, and should not be interpreted as a prejudgment of the outcome of the ongoing investigation. Instead, they emphasized that the decision is strictly preventive and administrative in nature.
The cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport on Monday, June 8, 2026, involving approximately 237.6 kilograms, has triggered one of the most serious narcotics investigations in recent years, raising concerns about possible transnational drug trafficking networks operating through Liberia and the extent of local involvement.
King’s suspension marks a significant escalation in the probe, signaling that investigators are widening their focus beyond the initial seizure and examining potential links to individuals occupying positions within public institutions.
While the government has not disclosed the specific nature of the entities associated with King, the Executive Mansion indicated that they fall within the scope of ongoing investigative scrutiny as authorities attempt to map out the full network behind the shipment.
For many Liberians, the development adds urgency to growing public concerns over drug trafficking and institutional accountability, particularly regarding whether influential individuals connected to public institutions may be implicated.
The Boakai administration has repeatedly pledged to intensify the fight against illicit drugs and strengthen national security institutions through transparency, accountability, and adherence to the rule of law.
In its statement, the Executive Mansion urged the public to remain calm, avoid speculation, and allow investigators to carry out their work without interference, reaffirming that the process will be conducted independently and in accordance with Liberian law.
As the investigation continues, attention is expected to remain firmly on whether additional officials or institutions may come under scrutiny and how far-reaching the alleged network behind the cocaine shipment may extend.
King remains suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, which authorities say is still ongoing and expanding as new information emerges.
