ZWEDRU, Grand Gedeh County: Liberia’s reported US$19 million cocaine seizure at Roberts International Airport became one of the major political talking points at the 22nd anniversary celebration of the Congress for Democratic Change, as former President George Manneh Weah and Alternative National Congress Political Leader Alexander B. Cummings both used the Zwedru gathering to question the Boakai administration’s handling of the case.
In his official statement, former President Weah accused the Unity Party government of compromising national security and claimed that Liberia had become a “narco state,” alleging that government-linked actors were being shielded in drug-related matters. His remarks formed part of a broader attack on President Joseph Boakai’s leadership, which Weah said had weakened democratic gains, undermined the rule of law, and failed to protect ordinary citizens.
Cummings, who served as keynote speaker, addressed the issue directly by calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the recent US$19 million drug bust at RIA. He said the case should become a test of whether the government is serious about fighting drugs and holding powerful people accountable.
“We must begin by demanding nothing less than an independent and transparent investigation of the recent 19 million US Dollar drug bust at the RIA, and accountability for all those found culpable,” Cummings said, warning that the opposition would not allow the matter to be buried.
The ANC leader also warned against any attempt to protect “big hands” in the case, saying opposition parties would use their local and international contacts to press for accountability. His comments echoed concerns already circulating in the public space following the seizure, which has drawn national attention and demands for clarity.
While Weah framed the matter as part of a broader national-security and governance failure, Cummings focused on the need for an independent probe. Together, their statements suggest that the drug bust is becoming a major opposition campaign issue ahead of the 2029 political season.
President Joseph Boakai made the fight against illicit drugs a central pillar of his 2023 presidential campaign, repeatedly criticizing the Weah administration over narcotics trafficking and suggesting that senior officials had failed to confront the growing menace. However, despite those campaign accusations, no criminal charges have been brought against former President George Weah or members of his former administration in connection with drug trafficking since the Boakai government assumed office.
At the same time, allegations have surfaced linking President Boakai’s son, Tamba “Tantan” Boakai, and other individuals associated with the current administration to the country’s drug trade. Those allegations have fueled growing calls from opposition figures for an independent investigation, with critics accusing the government of shielding politically connected individuals. The Boakai administration has not acknowledged any wrongdoing by the President’s son, and no court has established criminal liability against him.
The presence of several opposition leaders at the CDC anniversary, including Musa Bility, Benoni Urey, Simeon Freeman, Kabineh Ja’neh, Amara Konneh, and others, gave the event the appearance of a wider opposition platform. However, available public reports reviewed by BanaBridge News mainly confirm direct cocaine-bust remarks from Weah and Cummings. No reliable public report reviewed showed separate drug-bust comments from the other invited opposition leaders at the Zwedru event.
The CDC anniversary, originally framed as a celebration of the party’s 22-year journey, has now also become a launchpad for opposition pressure on the Boakai administration over drugs, governance, security, and accountability.
Weah closed his statement by declaring that “the road to 2029 begins today,” while Cummings called on opposition parties to “close ranks” in holding the government accountable. The cocaine bust now appears likely to remain one of the key issues around which opposition forces will challenge the Unity Party government in the months ahead.
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