By
By The People Newspaper
Political analyst and Unity Party supporter Ambulah Mamey says no narcotics investor would put over US$300 million into Liberia without first getting “assurances from influential actors” that their business is protected. He is calling on the Boakai administration to expose and penalize those influential actors behind the US$336 million cocaine case, saying that is the only way to break the cartel and protect Liberia’s reputation and future.
In June and late July 2026, Liberian authorities announced the seizure of cocaine from valued at over US$336 million from two separate operations. Since then, President Joseph N. Boakai has ordered arrests, launched inter-agency probes, and pledged that “no one will be spared” regardless of status. The Joint Security Investigative Taskforce is leading the investigation. Several suspects are in custody and assets linked to the case are under review. The President has also vowed tougher enforcement and deeper regional cooperation to dismantle trafficking networks.
Writing on the case, Mamey compared President Boakai’s actions to two previous regional drug busts and said JNB’s early response puts him ahead, but the real test is still ahead.
“Sierra Leone – Bai Kromah (2008) arrested 700kg of cocaine. There were convictions but the world remembers that case for not showing the other network members,” Mamey said.
“Liberia – Ellen (2010) cooperated with the US to break a cartel. The world remembers that case as one of US successful drugs operations in Africa.”
“Liberia – JNB (2026) arrested over $300M in cocaine. He has renewed commitments to not leaving anyone out. His initial actions put him ahead but more is needed to take us to the finish line. He is on a legacy making ACTION LINE. We trust his commitment, support his investigation, and await the outcome,” he added.
Mamey argued that drug trafficking at this scale cannot happen in isolation.
“Narco investors are similar to other investors. They all want security before they invest. No NARCO investor will invest over 300M in a country without first getting assurances from influential actors that his/her investment is secured. They may be caught occasionally because good people get to know and expose them but not because they were not assured,” he stated.
He said Liberians are now focused on accountability at the top.
“It is those influential actors that Liberians want to expose and penalize so the cartel is broken, and the reputation and future of our country is protected. We do not want a drug cartel to get profitable/powerful and begin to decide our next set of leaders.”
Mamey concluded that President Boakai has a historic opportunity to break the cycle, but only if the investigation reaches beyond those arrested to the financiers and protectors behind the trade.
