Liberia seizes $317m cocaine in largest-ever drugs bust
Liberian authorities have uncovered nearly four tonnes of cocaine in a major anti-narcotics operation near the capital, Monrovia, marking what officials describe as the country’s largest drug seizure on record.
The operation, carried out in the town of Duazon, led to the discovery of 3,971 kilograms of processed cocaine concealed inside suitcases and boxes stored in a truck. Investigators estimate the street value of the drugs at more than $317 million.
Several suspects, including two foreign nationals and a number of Liberians, were arrested during the raid. Police say investigations are ongoing and no formal charges have yet been announced.
Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman said the seizure followed months of surveillance targeting suspected drug-trafficking networks operating within Liberia. Forensic examinations later confirmed the substance recovered was cocaine.
Authorities are still working to determine where the shipment originated and its intended destination. One of the foreign suspects was reportedly carrying both Spanish and Colombian passports, while the second held a Serbian passport.
The latest operation comes weeks after security agencies intercepted a separate cocaine shipment at Roberts International Airport. That case prompted a government-backed investigation amid concerns about the growing influence of international drug syndicates in the country.
Vice-President Jeremiah Koung praised security personnel involved in the operation and vowed that anyone found responsible would face prosecution.
The seizure highlights West Africa’s growing role in the global cocaine trade. International agencies have repeatedly warned that criminal networks are increasingly using the region as a transit point for drugs moving from South America to European markets, with record quantities of cocaine being intercepted across the region in recent years.
Source: BBC
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