Liberia: Suspended Monrovia Central Prison Deputy Superintendent Alleges Irregular Arrest, Names Officials in Public Statement Tied to Drug Case

What the report says

Liberian prison official Jackson K. Kolako has publicly alleged that his August 1 arrest and nearly weeklong detention were tied to his resistance to an unannounced visit to an inmate connected to the country’s major narcotics case. In a statement circulated to journalists, Kolako said two people identifying themselves as National Security Agency agents arrived at Monrovia Central Prison without signing the visitor log, and that later-arriving senior corrections officials overruled standard entry procedures. The article says these claims were made by Kolako and have not been independently verified.

Kolako, who served as deputy superintendent for operations at the prison in Monrovia, said he was taken to Liberia National Police headquarters and held until August 7. He alleged that during custody he was pressed to hand over his phones and passwords, and later accused of links to drug traffickers, accusations he denies. He also said he was released with a suspension letter stating he had disrupted an inmate interview involving an external security agency.

FrontPageAfrica reported that it had sought comment from the Ministry of Justice, the National Security Agency and the police. The case comes amid wider fallout from Liberia’s anti-drug crackdown, which has already led to other dismissals and investigations. The dispute highlights tensions over prison access, security procedures and how the government is handling high-profile narcotics cases.