Liberia: Foreign Ministry Denies Diplomatic Pouch Link to Cocaine Probe

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Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly denied allegations that it or its leadership were involved in drug trafficking through the use of diplomatic pouches, dismissing the claims as “false, baseless and irresponsible” in a statement issued Wednesday.

The ministry said it was “deeply concerned” about what it described as attempts by certain individuals to falsely implicate the ministry and its leadership in the country’s ongoing high-profile narcotics investigation.

Coverage Comparison

According to reporting by AllAfrica, the ministry’s statement rejected all accusations connecting the diplomatic pouch or Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti to the movement of narcotics. The ministry described the allegations as entirely false, unsupported by any credible evidence, and “calculated to undermine public confidence” in the government’s coordinated efforts to combat transnational organized crime.

The statement emphasized that diplomatic pouches are governed by strict international legal standards and cannot be casually used for illicit purposes. The ministry noted that its role in handling diplomatic pouches and parcels is limited to facilitating duty-free privileges for accredited foreign missions and international organizations operating in Liberia.

The ministry also denied that Foreign Minister Nyanti authorized or approved the use of any diplomatic pouch connected to illegal narcotics activities. It warned that the spread of misinformation could jeopardize ongoing law enforcement investigations and undermine Liberia’s national interest.

Key Claims

• Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejected allegations that its diplomatic pouch was used for narcotics, calling them false, baseless, and irresponsible.
• The ministry stated that diplomatic pouches are strictly regulated under international law and are not casually available for illicit purposes.
• The ministry denied that Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti authorized or approved the use of a diplomatic pouch for illicit activities.
• Liberian authorities are pursuing two major narcotics cases, according to the ministry’s statement.
• Acting through the government and pursuant to decisions of the National Security Council, the ministry carried out diplomatic outreach to the United States, the United Kingdom, Morocco, Spain, Serbia, the Netherlands, the European Union, and other governments to build the capacity of joint security forces and expedite the investigation. These engagements reportedly sought technical expertise, investigative support, intelligence cooperation, and specialized training. The statement provided no dates for this outreach and named no partner that had committed anything in response.