By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The Witness Protection Agency (WPA) has formally offered state protection to Roberts International Airport (RIA) Security Manager Oscar Brown while calling for an investigation into the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information connected to the ongoing US$19.2 million cocaine seizure case.
In a statement issued Tuesday, June 23, 2026, the Agency expressed concern over Brown’s claims that his life may be in danger because of his connection to the investigation and urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. to take decisive action against anyone found responsible for leaking confidential details from the high-profile probe.
The WPA’s intervention follows recent public statements made by Brown on the radio program Spoon Talk, where he disclosed that he had received credible warnings not to return to Liberia following a training seminar abroad. According to Brown, he was informed that individuals had allegedly been positioned at Roberts International Airport to arrest and eliminate him upon his arrival.
While Brown stated that he remains alive and in good health, he reportedly expressed serious concerns about his safety, prompting the Witness Protection Agency to publicly extend protection under the Witness Protection Act of 2021.
According to the WPA, Brown and all other cooperating individuals connected to the investigation are entitled to extensive legal protections, including physical security, relocation assistance, legal support, psychosocial services, and welfare assistance.
The Agency disclosed that, with the approval of the Ministry of Justice, it has already initiated protective measures for cooperating individuals assisting investigators and has formally invited Brown to immediately contact the Agency so that additional security arrangements can be activated without delay.
Importantly, the WPA emphasized that the offer of protection extends beyond Brown himself. According to the Agency, members of his immediate family and any individual who feels threatened as a result of providing information connected to the cocaine investigation are also eligible for protection under Liberian law.
The statement comes as the investigation continues to expose new details surrounding the seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at US$19.2 million, one of the largest narcotics seizures in Liberia’s recent history. The case has intensified scrutiny of airport security operations, cargo screening procedures, and the potential involvement of multiple individuals connected to the movement of the shipment through Roberts International Airport.
Meanwhile, the WPA acknowledged and welcomed the voluntary appearance of GLS General Manager Paul J. King before the National Joint Security Task Force. The Agency described King’s decision to cooperate with investigators as a demonstration of respect for the rule of law and confidence in Liberia’s justice system.
According to the WPA, King’s cooperation is expected to assist authorities in establishing the full facts and circumstances surrounding the seizure and should serve as an example for others who may possess relevant information about the case.
The Agency specifically encouraged Oscar Brown, Emmanuel Zeon, and other individuals with knowledge of the matter to make themselves available to investigators and cooperate fully with lawful inquiries.
However, the strongest language in the WPA statement was directed at what it described as the unauthorized disclosure of sensitive investigative information on social media and other platforms.
The Agency expressed grave concern over the apparent leaks, describing them as a threat to witness safety and the integrity of the investigation. It called on the National Joint Security Task Force to identify those responsible and urged President Boakai to take severe action against any individual found to have improperly disclosed confidential information.
According to the WPA, such disclosures undermine Liberia’s efforts to combat narcotics trafficking and corruption while potentially placing witnesses, whistleblowers, and cooperating individuals in danger.
The Agency warned that the safety of witnesses depends heavily on the confidentiality of ongoing investigations and stressed that irresponsible handling of sensitive information could compromise both the integrity of the case and the security of those assisting authorities.
The WPA further stated that it would not stand by while the integrity of the investigation and the safety of cooperating individuals are placed at risk by what it described as careless or unlawful disclosures by persons entrusted with sensitive information.
The Agency’s intervention highlights growing concerns that the investigation is entering a more sensitive phase, particularly as authorities seek to identify those responsible for facilitating the movement of the cocaine shipment and determine whether broader criminal networks were involved.
Beyond the immediate investigation, the WPA used the opportunity to highlight Liberia’s evolving witness and whistleblower protection framework. Officials pointed to the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2021 and the establishment of the Witness Protection Agency as evidence of the country’s commitment to international anti-corruption and anti-crime standards under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
The Agency noted that Liberia has taken deliberate steps in recent years to strengthen legal protections for witnesses, whistleblowers, experts, and victims who cooperate with authorities in good faith, particularly in cases involving corruption, organized crime, and narcotics trafficking.
As public attention remains fixed on the US$19.2 million cocaine case, the WPA’s latest statement introduces a new dimension to the investigation, raising concerns over witness safety, institutional accountability, and the handling of sensitive information by individuals entrusted with confidential details.
The Agency concluded by reaffirming its commitment to protecting Oscar Brown, Emmanuel Zeon, other cooperating individuals, and their immediate families as authorities continue pursuing answers in a case that has captured national and international attention.
