Liberia: McGill Rejects Costa’s Drug Cartel Allegation, Demands Evidence

Senator Says Claims Linking Him to Alleged Narcotics Network Are “False, Malicious and Unsupported” Monrovia — Senator Nathaniel F. McGill has strongly rejected allegations by political commentator Henry Pedro Costa seeking to link him to an alleged drug cartel, describing the claims as false, malicious and unsupported by credible evidence. By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald. koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline. com The allegation comes amid heightened public scrutiny of Liberia’s ongoing investigation and prosecution of individuals accused of involvement in the country’s recent high-profile narcotics cases, with competing claims and counterclaims increasingly playing out in the media and political space. In a recent podcast, Costa allegedly claimed that Gerald Smith told investigators that Senator McGill was linked to a drug cartel.

The allegation has not been independently substantiated by FrontPage Africa. Responding through an official statement, the Office of Senator McGill categorically denied any connection between the senator and drug trafficking or an alleged narcotics organization. “The Office categorically rejects these allegations as false, misleading, malicious, and entirely unsupported by credible evidence,” the statement said. The senator’s office maintained that McGill has never associated himself with a drug cartel, drug-trafficking operation or illegal drug business. It cautioned against presenting allegations based on insinuation, speculation or unverified claims as established facts before the Liberian public. Denies Financial Link to Gerald Smith A central aspect of the statement was the office’s denial that McGill ever received money from Gerald Smith or anyone associated with him in connection with alleged drug-related activities. “The Office further…