Criminal Justice Students Warn Against Politicizing Liberia’s Drug Investigation | Education

Concerned graduate students studying Criminal Justice Administration have called for professionalism, restraint and the depoliticization of ongoing claims and counterclaims surrounding Liberia’s investigation into illicit drug trafficking.

In a statement signed by Williams Getoo, spokesman for the Concerned Criminal Justice Graduate Students and approved by the Board of Criminal Justice Practitioners, the group said Liberia’s response to the drug crisis must remain grounded in the 1986 Constitution, the Penal Law and internationally accepted principles of criminal justice.

The students acknowledged the threat illicit drug trafficking poses to national security, public health and the rule of law, while recognizing the role of whistleblowers and civil society organizations in exposing alleged wrongdoing.

However, they cautioned against treating allegations as established facts before they are properly investigated and supported by admissible evidence.

“As the first enforcers of Liberia’s Criminal Justice System, guided by the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia and the Penal Law, Title 26 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, we respectfully call for professionalism, restraint, and depoliticization of claims and counter-claims,” the statement said.

The group emphasized that accused persons must be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court, warning that mere accusations could undermine public confidence in the justice system.

The students also addressed the controversy surrounding the procurement of vehicles allegedly involving law-enforcement institutions. They cautioned against automatically labeling procurement irregularities as criminal fraud without evidence of criminal intent.

“Procurement irregularities, without proven criminal intent, do not in themselves amount to fraud under the Penal Law,” they maintained.

They called for the matter to undergo technical and legal review by appropriate government institutions to determine whether violations occurred and whether such violations constitute criminal conduct.

The group further urged whistleblowers and civil society organizations to exercise restraint and provide actionable intelligence to the Ministry of Justice, Liberia National Police and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), rather than relying primarily on public accusations or social media campaigns.

The students also defended the Ministry of Justice under Attorney General and Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, saying the Ministry has prioritized transparency and accountability.

“Based on traceable public records, the Ministry of Justice under the administration of Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh has prioritized transparency and accountability,” they said.

While acknowledging operational gaps within the justice and law-enforcement system, the students said these should be addressed through reforms to strengthen investigative and prosecutorial capacity.

They concluded by reaffirming their commitment to a criminal justice system that is fair, evidence-based and free from political interference, stressing that Liberia’s fight against drug trafficking must focus on credible investigations, prosecutions and the dismantling of criminal networks while protecting constitutional rights and due process.