NO “SACRED COWS” OR FEATURED UNTOUCHABLES?

Website:www.cajintl.org

Liberia is testing its own slogan: “no sacred cows.”

Two vice presidents. Two cocaine busts at Roberts International Airport. Two sets of photos. Two very different outcomes so far. And that is why international rights and civil society groups are now pushing for an investigation into sitting Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung.

On June 8, 2026, Liberian authorities intercepted 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at over US$19.2 million at the GLS Menzies facility inside Roberts International Airport. Public scrutiny intensified weeks later after photographs surfaced on social media showing Vice President Koung alongside Anthony “Tony” Deinuka and Michael Brown. Both names have been linked in public commentary to the probe.

Critics, opposition politicians, and FrontPageAfrica publisher Rodney Sieh publicly called on the Vice President to explain the relationship. CDC’s Jefferson Chesson argued that if the government is serious about combating drug trafficking, then the sitting VP must be officially questioned like any other citizen to restore public confidence.

Vice President Koung has strongly denied any involvement or personal relationship with drug suspects. He and Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah clarified that taking photographs with citizens is standard for a public official and does not prove personal dealings. Koung stated that if any of his friends, relatives, or political associates are found guilty, they should face the full weight of the law.

Anthony Deinuka, a former RIA employee seen in the photos, also broke his silence. He said he is not under investigation, has no connection to the bust, and accused political opponents of weaponizing his mentorship under the Vice President to damage Koung’s reputation. Deinuka said he attended the Vice President’s birthday celebration and visited his office, where the photos were taken.

The government’s position, through Minister Piah, has been to dismiss attempts to connect the Vice President to the drug suspect via photographs as a political “distraction.” The Ministry reiterated that the administration remains fully committed to investigating anyone involved in the drug trade regardless of their status or political affiliation. As of September 2026, no charges have been filed against the Vice President and no summons has been issued.

Four months later, on August 19, 2026, the “no sacred cows” line was tested again. This time with former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor.

Authorities stopped her at RIA as she attempted to board a flight to Accra, Ghana, where she was scheduled to speak at a public forum. She was arrested and later formally charged in Criminal Court “C” with drug trafficking, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy under Liberia’s Controlled Drug and Substance Act and Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law.

Prosecutors and Police Chief Gregory Coleman linked her arrest to a sweeping investigation into major regional drug busts, including a record-setting $317 million cocaine seizure.

The state’s case centers heavily on Sheikh Bassirou Kante. According to investigator testimonies, Kante introduced Howard-Taylor in Dubai in 2022 to three foreign nationals, including Nicolas Ivancic, whom authorities identify as a major cocaine cartel leader. Kante allegedly presented them as cocoa industry investors looking to bring $250 million into Liberia. Investigators allege this network was actually using Liberia as a transit point for European drug trafficking.

A cornerstone of the prosecution’s evidence involves phone extractions, WhatsApp logs, and audio recordings. Investigators state that Kante later cooperated with law enforcement and placed a recorded call to Howard-Taylor. In the recording, Kante allegedly reminded her of the men from Dubai and stated they had sent her a “gift.” State witness testimonies also claim that additional audio files capture Howard-Taylor requesting financial support such as $60,000 from the cartel through Kante. The prosecution further alleges that discussions took place promising the cartel a “free way to operate their cocaine business” in Liberia once political backing was secured.

Kante has publicly denied wearing a wire and denied the allegations. Howard-Taylor and her lawyers have strongly rejected the state’s claims, saying she interacts with thousands of potential investors as part of her former official duties and has no personal relationship or criminal involvement with the alleged cartel figures. Her supporters have alleged that the prosecution is politically motivated and have questioned the transparency of the Boakai-Koung administration’s handling of the case, pointing out that Kante has remained free to travel internationally while the former Vice President was detained.

After her arrest, Howard-Taylor experienced a health emergency involving high blood pressure and an asthma attack, leading to a temporary hospital stay under heavy police guard. A court initially denied a defense request for her to remain hospitalized and ordered her transferred to Monrovia Central Prison. Shortly after, the court granted a modified release, transferring her to house arrest under strict medical and travel restrictions. She is legally presumed innocent until proven guilty and the Ministry of Justice says the state continues to present its digital and oral evidence in open court.

That is the contrast the public is talking about. In the Howard-Taylor case, the process moved from allegations to arrest, charges, and court filings. In the Koung case, the process has so far stopped at denial and a press statement.

This has raised legal questions about immunity. The 1986 Liberian Constitution does not give the Vice President blanket immunity from criminal prosecution. Article 46 only grants immunity to the President while in office, stating that “The President shall be immune from any arrest, detention, or prosecution during the term of office.” The Vice President is not mentioned in Article 46.

Because of that, a sitting VP can legally be investigated by LDEA, Police, and the Ministry of Justice. A sitting VP can be charged in court if prosecutors believe there is evidence. A sitting VP can be arrested like any other citizen. The only protection is political, not legal, because it would be unprecedented and could trigger a constitutional crisis given that the VP is first in line of succession and President of the Senate. Parliament could also begin impeachment proceedings under Article 43 for “misconduct.”

Rights groups argue that de-facto immunity is not the same as legal immunity. They say the only way to kill the “sacred cow” narrative is consistent process. If the standard is evidence, then let the evidence be tested. If the standard is association, then the same questions asked of one should be asked of the other.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that its investigation is objective and without political interference. But for many Liberians, one former VP is in court facing charges while one sitting VP is on television denying ties. Both cases started with a bust at RIA and pictures on the internet.

How the government handles the next step will determine if “no sacred cows” is actual policy, or just a slogan.