Liberia: Lawyer for Ex-NSA Deputy Rejects Attempts Linking Weah-Era Into Ongoing Probe

What the report says

AllAfrica, carrying a FrontPageAfrica report from Monrovia dated July 29, 2026, says Cllr. Gbawou Kowou, lawyer for former National Security Agency deputy Gerald Smith, has rejected claims tying his client to a widening narcotics and security-services investigation. Kowou said Smith has not been charged, denies involvement or prior knowledge of the alleged conduct, and should be treated as innocent unless evidence is produced through proper legal channels.

The report says Smith was questioned last week as investigators examine alleged security breaches and possible links to a major drug-trafficking probe. FrontPageAfrica attributes several claims to sources close to the investigation, including that armed Colombians were present at a property in Floko Town, that NSA credentials may have reached unauthorized people, and that Smith allegedly sold badges. Kowou disputes those claims, and the article notes they are not contained in charging documents.

Attorney General and Justice Minister Oswald Tweh is cited as saying the probe connected to a US$318 million drug bust has produced leads suggesting an organized and well-financed narcotics network may have operated in Liberia for more than six years. The article also references a separate US$19 million seizure at Roberts International Airport in June and says investigators are pursuing national and international cooperation.

The matter is politically sensitive because Smith had ties to the administration of former President George Manneh Weah, while the alleged network’s timeline may overlap with the former government. FrontPageAfrica also reports that current inquiries involve personnel from the Liberia National Police and NSA, but many details remain allegations from investigative sources rather than court-tested findings.