By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s son, Joseph Boakai Jr., has publicly broken his silence over allegations linking him to an alleged international narcotics network, categorically denying any involvement in drug trafficking as Liberia’s investigation into a record US$317 million cocaine seizure enters one of its most politically sensitive stages.
In a lengthy statement issued Wednesday, July 29, 2026, Boakai Jr. rejected claims circulating on social media that sought to connect him to an alleged “cartel” through a viral WhatsApp video, insisting that he has never participated in narcotics trafficking, accepted money in exchange for influence, or used his relationship with the President to interfere with government institutions or shield anyone from justice.
His statement comes as security agencies continue investigating the seizure of approximately 3,971 kilograms of suspected cocaine in Margibi County, a case widely regarded as one of the largest drug busts in Liberia’s history. The investigation has heightened public concern over the influence of transnational drug trafficking networks and fueled demands for an independent, transparent investigation capable of restoring public confidence.
Breaking Three Years of Silence
Boakai Jr. acknowledged that this was the first time he had publicly responded to allegations that have repeatedly surfaced since his father assumed the presidency.
According to him, he deliberately chose silence over the past three years because he believed responding to every accusation would only distract him from his family, private businesses, and personal responsibilities while creating unnecessary controversy for the government.
He said he also wanted public officials to perform their duties independently without accusations that he was influencing state affairs because of his family relationship with the President.
“I have never held myself out as a government official. I neither make government decisions nor direct government institutions,” he declared.
Boakai Jr. revealed that at the beginning of 2024, he consciously distanced himself from the day-to-day affairs of government to avoid even the appearance of exercising unofficial authority.
He pointed to his former employment at the Liberia Maritime Authority, noting that after the elections he visited the institution only once to thank former colleagues before deliberately staying away from its operations.
Despite those efforts, he said speculation about his alleged involvement in government contracts, appointments, and official decisions continued to circulate.
Explains Viral WhatsApp “Cartel” Video
A significant portion of Boakai Jr.’s statement focused on explaining the viral video that triggered widespread public debate.
According to him, he woke one morning to discover that while he had been asleep around 3:00 a.m., he had received a WhatsApp message from a telephone number identified as originating from Colombia accusing him of involvement in narcotics trafficking and containing threats against him.
Rather than engaging the sender, he said he responded by dismissing the allegation as a false attempt to manufacture a criminal connection before immediately blocking the number.
He further disclosed that he took screenshots of the conversation and voluntarily forwarded them to both the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency before the matter became public.
The following day, he said, a video surfaced online displaying his WhatsApp profile photograph, telephone number, and portions of the conversation.
According to Boakai Jr., the video intentionally omitted his response rejecting the allegations, thereby creating what he described as a misleading impression that he had some connection to the individuals behind the messages.
“What immediately stood out was what had been deliberately omitted,” he stated.
Addresses Relationship with Named Individuals
Boakai Jr. also acknowledged knowing some of the individuals whose names have surfaced in connection with the public controversy.
He confirmed knowing Ibrahima Touré, explaining that he met him earlier this year through Habib Sheriff, whom he described as a young Liberian who had returned from the United States seeking legitimate investment opportunities.
According to Boakai Jr., discussions with Touré centered on sports development, including meetings involving the Real Madrid Foundation, where he said he made it clear from the outset that he was not a government official and therefore could not represent the Liberian Government or make commitments on its behalf.
He said officials from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and Liberia’s Ambassador to France subsequently participated in meetings with representatives of the Real Madrid Foundation as well as companies involved in medical technology and telemedicine that expressed interest in supporting healthcare delivery in Liberia.
Boakai Jr. added that after returning to Liberia in May, there were discussions about possible private investments in the hospitality and food service sectors.
However, he maintained that those discussions were ordinary commercial conversations and that no agreements were finalized.
He stressed that at no time did Touré or Sheriff ask him to facilitate illegal activity or use his family relationship to obtain government favors.
Friendship Does Not Place Anyone Above the Law
Boakai Jr. also responded to public speculation regarding his friendship with Mark Kuiah, describing him as a longtime friend known by many Liberians across political lines.
However, he insisted that friendship should never be interpreted as immunity from criminal accountability.
“If any friend of mine is found to have violated the laws of this Republic, that person must answer before the law like every other citizen,” he stated.
He emphasized that while he would never falsely accuse anyone to satisfy public opinion, neither would he interfere if credible evidence established criminal wrongdoing.
Throughout his statement, Boakai Jr. repeatedly argued that justice must be guided by evidence rather than assumptions, due process rather than rumor, and fairness rather than political pressure.
Unequivocal Denial
Boakai Jr. issued one of his strongest denials when addressing the allegations directly.
He declared that he has never participated in discussions involving narcotics trafficking, facilitated illegal drug activity, accepted money in exchange for influence, or used his relationship to the Presidency to shield anyone from accountability.
He insisted those declarations were neither rehearsed nor politically motivated but reflected the truth as he knows it.
He further challenged anyone claiming to possess evidence against him to submit that evidence to Liberia’s security institutions instead of relying on social media campaigns.
Welcomes Independent Investigation
Seeking to reinforce his position, Boakai Jr. publicly welcomed what he described as a full, impartial, and thorough investigation.
He pledged complete cooperation with the Liberia National Police, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Security Agency, and any other competent investigative authority.
“I have nothing to hide,” he declared.
He also expressed hope that the controversy would strengthen rather than weaken the determination of security institutions to dismantle every criminal network responsible for bringing narcotics into Liberia, regardless of who may ultimately be implicated.
Appeal to Liberia’s Youth
Beyond defending himself, Boakai Jr. used the statement to address Liberia’s growing drug crisis.
He described narcotics as one of the country’s greatest challenges, pointing to the devastating impact of addiction on young people, families, and communities.
He called on every Liberian, not just government institutions, to join the fight against drug trafficking.
“The fight against narcotics is not the responsibility of government alone,” he said, urging families, schools, religious institutions, and communities to work together to protect Liberia’s youth from addiction and criminal exploitation.
Statement Unlikely to End Public Debate
Although Boakai Jr.’s statement represents his most comprehensive public response to date, it is unlikely to bring an immediate end to public scrutiny.
His acknowledgment of relationships with individuals now attracting public attention is expected to intensify calls for investigators to thoroughly examine every relevant connection as part of the ongoing narcotics investigation.
The statement also increases pressure on Liberia’s security institutions to demonstrate that their investigation is guided solely by evidence and not by political influence or public pressure.
For many Liberians, the central question is no longer simply whether the President’s son denies wrongdoing. Instead, public attention has shifted toward whether investigators will transparently establish the facts and pursue accountability wherever credible evidence leads.
A Critical Test for the Rule of Law
The controversy has evolved into one of the most consequential tests of the Boakai administration’s commitment to the rule of law since taking office.
Government officials have repeatedly pledged zero tolerance for corruption and organized crime. The unprecedented cocaine seizure and the controversy surrounding the viral “cartel” video have now placed those commitments under intense public scrutiny.
Political commentators, including critics of the First Family, argue that the credibility of Liberia’s anti-drug campaign will ultimately depend not on public statements but on whether investigators are allowed to complete their work independently and whether their findings are disclosed transparently.
Likewise, supporters of due process maintain that allegations alone should never substitute for evidence and that every individual mentioned in connection with the investigation deserves the protections guaranteed under the law until facts are established.
As Liberia continues investigating one of the largest cocaine seizures in its history, the outcome of the case is expected to shape not only the country’s fight against transnational organized crime but also public confidence in the independence of its justice system.
For Boakai Jr., the statement represents his first and, by his own account, likely only public response. Whether it eases public concern or fuels demands for deeper scrutiny will ultimately depend on the findings of investigators and the evidence presented through Liberia’s legal institutions.
