By By: Staff Writer
Joseph N. Boakai, Jr., son of President Joseph N. Boakai, has publicly rejected allegations linking him to narcotics trafficking, following the circulation of a video last week in which two armed men claimed a relationship with him over Liberia’s largest cocaine seizure. In a statement released July 29, 2026, Boakai Jr. said he is addressing the matter directly because Liberians deserve clarity and “the seriousness of the allegations requires me to speak.”
The video, which went viral days ago, showed two men holding what they described as samples from the country’s biggest drug bust. They addressed Boakai Jr. by name, called him “family,” and threatened him for remaining silent.
Boakai Jr. said the controversy began when he received a threatening WhatsApp message from a number traced to Colombia. He stated he blocked the number, took screenshots, and submitted them to the Liberia National Police and National Security Agency. He accused the online video of deliberately omitting his rejection of the claims. He also addressed the appearance of Mr. Ibrahima Touré in the footage, saying he met Touré earlier this year through a mutual acquaintance and that discussions centered on sports and healthcare, not illegal activity.
The President’s son emphasized he has stayed out of government since early 2024 to avoid perceptions of influence. “I have never held myself out as a government official. I neither make government decisions nor direct government institutions. My relationship to the Presidency is one of family—not constitutional authority,” he said. He added that at no point was he asked to facilitate anything illegal or use his family name for favors.
Calling drug trafficking “an unforgivable offense against Liberia,” Boakai Jr. pledged full cooperation with authorities. “I welcome a full, impartial, and thorough investigation,” he stated. “I have never participated in discussions involving narcotics trafficking. I have never facilitated illegal drug activity. I have never accepted money in exchange for influence.” He said investigators have already reached out to him, to Touré, and referenced accounts involving Mr. Habib Shireff.
He urged security institutions to pursue the case “without fear, without favor, and without political influence,” echoing public calls for consistency after recent arrests of police and NSA officers in connection with the same drug seizure. “No one—not even the son of a President—is above the law,” Boakai Jr. concluded, appealing to youth and communities to join the fight against narcotics.
