Liberia Prison Officer Arrested, Requests Cocaine Suspects Be Held Abroad
Jackson K. Kolako, deputy superintendent for operations at Monrovia Central Prison, was arrested by Liberia National Police officers and held for six days without a statement being taken, amid a major drug trafficking case
A prison officer in Liberia has requested that cocaine suspects be held outside the country due to concerns about prison breaks and corruption. Jackson K. Kolako, deputy superintendent for operations at Monrovia Central Prison, made the appeal to President Joseph N. Boakai after he was arrested by Liberia National Police officers on August 1.
Kolako was held at police headquarters from August 1 to August 7 without a statement being taken from him. He has appealed to President Boakai to move everyone detained at the prison in connection with the drug case to a secure holding facility abroad, preferably in Morocco, while they await trial.
The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency's officer-in-charge, Fitzgerald T.M. Biago, has temporarily recused himself from his duties amid allegations of receiving a vehicle from individuals linked to drug trafficking. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has ordered a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the allegations against Biago.
Moses Jallah, a former LDEA deputy commander, was rearrested on August 10 after attempting to fly out of the country while the investigation against him remained active. Jallah is charged with obstructing law enforcement, interfering with a government function, and tampering with a criminal investigation.
The Ministry of Justice has issued a statement responding to allegations made by Kolako, but did not address why he was held for six days without a statement being taken. President Boakai has appointed retired Major General Daniel Dee Ziankahn as Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, amid a major drug trafficking case and criticism over the government's handling of the investigation.
## Why it matters The case has sparked concerns about corruption and the ability of the Liberian government to handle the investigation. The appointment of a new Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency and the recusal of Biago are seen as attempts to address these concerns. However, some have criticized the government's handling of the case, with Senator Amara M. Konneh arguing that senior security officials should be fired and indicted rather than allowed to step aside on their own terms.
The controversy has also raised questions about the credibility of the entire security apparatus in Liberia. Senator Augustine S. Chea, chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, has called for the police inspector general and other senior security officials to step aside from the investigation, warning that institutions facing questions of their own cannot credibly investigate themselves.
The situation highlights the challenges faced by the Liberian government in its fight against drug trafficking. The government has been criticized for its handling of the investigation, and the appointment of a new Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency is seen as an attempt to restore credibility to the agency. However, the case has also sparked concerns about corruption and the ability of the government to address the issue.
