More than three months into Liberia’s nearly $400 million cocaine investigation, one question remains stubbornly unanswered: Who ordered the vehicles allegedly carrying the drugs to move through the country?
A new dispute over an alleged statement by one of the suspects has brought that question back into focus.
An unidentified source, according to SPOONTALK claimed that Wadell Kwarbo, who is detained in connection with the cocaine case, had said he was acting on the instructions of Inspector General of Police Gregory O. W. Coleman when he escorted vehicles allegedly linked to the drug operation.
Hours later, a purported statement from Kwarbo’s family rejected the claim, saying Kwarbo never made such a statement and has been advised by his lawyers to remain silent while his case is before the courts.
The two accounts cannot be independently reconciled. However, Kwarbo’s stepfather J. Gbleh-bo Brown who is a ranking member of the Senate had earlier said his son told him he acted upon orders.
The purported family statement, dated Sept. 24, says Kwarbo “firmly rejects and denies” the allegation that Coleman instructed him to participate in, facilitate or escort any illegal drug activity. It says he continues to maintain his innocence and has been advised by his legal team not to discuss his arrest or detention publicly.
But the so-called family statement also raises questions about its own provenance.
It carries no contact telephone number or other direct means of verification. It cannot be found on the official Facebook page belonging to Kwarbo’s wife, Bendu Kwarbo, who is named as the signatory.
That does not establish that the statement is unauthentic. It does, however, leave its immediate source difficult to independently verify.
The original allegation is also unverified. The source who purportedly relayed Kwarbo’s comments has not been identified, and no recording, signed statement or other evidence has been presented to substantiate the claim that Coleman issued an order to escort cocaine vehicles.
The uncertainty points to a larger problem at the heart of the investigation.
If vehicles carrying cocaine were moved through Liberia under instructions, who gave those instructions?
After more than three months, publicly available information has yet to identify the person who allegedly authorized the transportation. That missing link could be critical to establishing how the suspected trafficking network operated and who, if anyone, exercised authority over the movement of the drugs.
Kwarbo’s family says the answer should come from evidence presented in court rather than statements attributed to him outside the judicial process.
In its purported statement, the family says Kwarbo’s innocence should be determined by the courts and urges journalists and the public to avoid repeating unverified claims that could affect the proceedings.
The family also characterized his arrest and continued detention as the result of false and misleading allegations.
The cocaine may have had a route. The vehicles may have had escorts. But who gave the order? That answer, after months of investigation, remains elusive.
