Editorial:The US$100 Million Cocaine Acquittal: The Uncited, The Uninvestigated, The Unarrested

By Hot Pepper Last updated Jun 5, 2023

THE HOT PEPPER investigation, which has been corroborated by the report of the Special Investigative Team (SIT) report and further confirmed and affirmed by the Ministry of Justice’s own indictment, shows that TRH, which is owned by George Abi Jaoudi, Bilal Abraham, his wife and Cllr. Johnny Momo is the importer of the containers in which the US$100 million cocaine was found, while Allegra Foods Company of Brazil is the consignor.

BUT BOTH THE police and the Minister of Justice strangely left out TRH and its owners from the investigation and proceeded to arrest Malam Conte and others as owners of the cocaine, even though the bill of laden for the importation of the containers is in the name of TRH.

THE INVESTIGATION ALSO shows that from the Ministry of Justice’s own indictment accuses TRH of being the importer of the dangerous drugs into Liberia, but it failed to arrest and investigate George Abi Jaoudi of Abi Jaoudi & Azar Trading, and Bilal Abraham and his wife, owners of TRH.

FURTHER EVIDENCE GATHERED during the investigation and confirmed by credible police sources revealed that neither TRH nor Allegra Foods Company, Brazil, who are both consignee and consignor of the US$100 million cocaine bust, were ever contacted or investigated.

THE INVESTIGATIVE TEAM set up by the Government of Liberia (GOL) to probe the cocaine case requested in its report that the Minister of Justice assist them apply the Mutual Legal Assistance(MLA) to arrest and investigate Gustavos Henrique, believed to be the mastermind of the cocaine deal, but the report has fallen on deaf ears. The team also requested to visit the Freeport of Monrovia, Roberts International Airport (RIA) and other business centers, but they were never given the opportunity to do so.

THE HOT PEPPER’S investigation found no evidence of any effort being made by the government through the Ministry of Justice or the Liberia National Police (LNP) to cite for investigation through INTEPOL Allegra Food Company, Brazil, or Bilal Abraham, who is currently out of Liberia while his TRH business is running.

CREDIBLE POLICE SOURCES told this paper that the investigative team was prevented from citing TRH and its owners for investigation, and that officials at TRH even refused to cooperate with the police, and yet, the police were instructed by higher ups to make TRH and its owners whistleblowers even though the Ministry of Justice’s indictment declared TRH as the importer of the cocaine.

INSIDE SOURCES AT the police also told this paper that investigators were instructed that “TRH” was a “no-go area” and George Abi Jaoudi, Bilal Abraham, his wife, or any official associated with TRH was advised not to honor any invitation from the police.