Monrovia, Aug. 19 -- Liberia's investigation into the more than US$337 million cocaine seizures has triggered an increasingly bitter war of words between elected officials and presidential appointees, exposing tensions over political loyalty, institutional accountability and the government's handling of one of the country's biggest narcotics cases.

By Obediah Johnson

The exchanges have centered on competing demands for transparency and accountability, with some officials calling for stronger oversight of the investigation while others accuse lawmakers of politicizing an active national security matter.

The latest public dispute involves Liberia National Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh, Lib...