Piah Announces another Record Drug Bust -Government defends JFK, unveils development strides

MONROVIA – A suspected record drug seizure has thrust Liberia’s fight against narcotics trafficking back into sharp national focus. Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah used a routine briefing to project a government determined to police its porous borders. Yet the same platform revealed how much rests on unverified early claims about the consignment’s true scale. Beyond narcotics, the briefing bundled monetary policy, electrification, and technology ambitions into a single, upbeat message of national momentum. It also mounted a pointed defense of a maligned public hospital. Together, the announcements reveal an administration eager to control the narrative amid mounting scrutiny. What remains untested is whether these bold promises translate into measurable results, as THE ANALYST George C. Flomoreports.

The Government of Liberia has announced what could become the largest drug seizure in the country’s history, while reaffirming its commitment to combating narcotics trafficking, defending the reputation of the John F. Kennedy (JFK) Medical Center against what it described as unfair public attacks, and providing updates on major national development initiatives. The wide-ranging disclosures came during a single government press briefing in Monrovia.

Suspected Record Cocaine Haul

Speaking Tuesday at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing, Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah said Liberian security agencies had uncovered a massive cache of suspected cocaine in Dauzon. Although the drugs had not yet been opened and weighed at the time of the announcement, he said preliminary indications suggest the seizure could surpass any previous drug bust in Liberia.

According to Piah, the discovery demonstrates the government’s determination to prevent Liberia from being used as a transit point for international drug trafficking. “The individuals and security institutions dealing with the drug situation are determined and committed, and we will leave no stone unturned in tackling the drug issue,” he declared.

He recalled previous high-profile drug trafficking cases, including shipments valued at more than US$100 million (L$18.24 billion) that allegedly passed through Liberia under previous administrations, contrasting those incidents with the current government’s intensified anti-drug campaign. Piah also referenced the ongoing US$19 million (L$3.46 billion) drug case, describing it as evidence that Liberian law enforcement agencies are actively confronting narcotics trafficking.

He disclosed that two persons were initially apprehended near the newly discovered consignment and are expected to assist investigators as authorities work to identify the broader criminal network behind the shipment. The minister said members of the media would be taken to the discovery site following the press briefing to witness the seizure firsthand.

Technology Summit Opens

Turning to development matters, Piah announced the opening of the second edition of the Presidential-Level Technology Summit, organized by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications in collaboration with the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and other strategic partners. Held under the theme “Connecting Innovation with Opportunity,” the summit brings together senior government officials, cabinet ministers, technology leaders, innovators, investors, and development partners to explore Liberia’s digital transformation agenda.

According to him, this year’s gathering is expected to culminate in a presidential proclamation establishing Liberia Technology Summit Day as an annual national observance. He said the initiative reflects the government’s ambition to position Liberia as an emerging technology and investment hub in West Africa.

Central Bank Eases Rate

Piah also highlighted the outcome of the Central Bank of Liberia’s latest Monetary Policy Committee meeting, where three major policy decisions were announced to support macroeconomic stability. Among the measures, the Bank reduced its Monetary Policy Rate by 25 basis points to 16 percent while maintaining reserve requirements at 25 percent for Liberian dollar deposits and 10 percent for United States dollar deposits.

The committee further adjusted its standing deposit and credit facility corridors to improve the effectiveness of monetary policy transmission. Piah said the adjustments were designed to support the country’s ongoing economic recovery.

Power Reaches Buchanan

On infrastructure, the minister disclosed that the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has delivered its first consignment of electricity meters to Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, marking the first such delivery to the port city in 36 years. The meters will facilitate the connection of homes, businesses, schools, churches, markets, government offices, and other public facilities as part of the government’s plan to complete the electrification of Buchanan ahead of Liberia’s 179th Independence Day celebrations.

He described the milestone as part of the LEC management’s broader commitment to expanding reliable electricity access across the country. The delivery, he said, signals renewed momentum in the government’s rural and urban power agenda.

Second MCC Compact Eyed

Piah further announced that the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has welcomed a delegation from the United States Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) to launch a technical scoping mission for Liberia’s proposed second MCC Compact. The delegation, led by senior operational officials and technical experts, will assess priority energy infrastructure projects and conduct field visits to Grand Cape Mount and Grand Bassa counties between July 20 and July 28.

He said the mission represents another important step toward securing strategic infrastructure investments capable of accelerating Liberia’s long-term economic development. The government, he added, views the compact as central to its energy expansion plans.

Government Defends JFK

A significant portion of the minister’s address focused on defending the John F. Kennedy Medical Center after what he described as offensive comments made by public figures referring to the country’s premier referral hospital as “JFK for Killing.” Piah strongly condemned the characterization, saying it unfairly insults the doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers who continue making enormous sacrifices under difficult conditions.

Drawing from his own recent experience as a patient, he said he spent an entire day receiving treatment at JFK Medical Center and witnessed firsthand the professionalism and dedication of its medical personnel. “There are committed and dedicated doctors attending to Liberians every day,” he said, adding that patients recover daily after receiving quality treatment at the hospital.

While acknowledging that deaths occur in hospitals around the world, Piah argued that isolated cases cannot justify branding Liberia’s largest referral hospital as an institution that kills patients. He called on politicians and public officials to support rather than undermine public institutions funded by taxpayers.

“If you do not have the courage to commend our healthcare workers, you should not disrespect the institutions they work so hard to sustain,” he asserted. The minister urged public figures to weigh the impact of their words on institutional morale.

Rumors Firmly Rejected

The Information Minister also condemned what he described as false and malicious rumors circulating on social media alleging that the aircraft transporting President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to the ECOWAS Summit in Freetown had caught fire. He categorically dismissed the reports as fabricated, emphasizing that no such incident occurred and that President Boakai traveled safely to Sierra Leone and returned to Liberia without incident.

According to Piah, such misinformation reflects a disturbing trend of individuals wishing harm upon national leaders and undermining public confidence through deliberate propaganda. He maintained that correcting false information forms part of the government’s responsibility to ensure the public receives accurate information.

VP Cleared Of Interference

Piah also defended Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung against allegations that he interfered in an ongoing court matter involving businessman Gracious Ride. He categorically rejected claims that the Vice President instructed the judiciary on how to decide any case, insisting that Liberia’s judiciary remains constitutionally independent.

Piah challenged judicial authorities to address public statements suggesting outside interference, warning that such allegations could undermine public confidence in the justice system if left unanswered. He said silence on the matter risked allowing damaging perceptions to take hold.

Bridge Corridor Advances

Providing an update on road infrastructure, Piah praised the ongoing rehabilitation of the Gabriel Tucker Bridge-to-Freeport corridor, noting that construction continues despite the rainy season. He expressed optimism that the project would significantly improve transportation along one of Monrovia’s busiest commercial routes and commended the engineering techniques being employed to allow construction while maintaining traffic flow.

The minister said the government’s commitment to infrastructure development remains unwavering as it continues implementing projects aimed at improving the lives of Liberians. He pledged that further updates would follow as milestones are reached.