Key facts
- Liberian police seized cocaine valued at over $370 million in Duazon, near Monrovia.
- The operation is described as the largest drug bust in Liberia's history.
- Several people, including two foreigners with Spanish, Colombian, and Serbian passports, were arrested.
- The seizure is part of a multi-year investigation into drug-trafficking networks.
- This follows a previous seizure of nearly 200 blocks of cocaine at Roberts International Airport last month.
Liberian authorities have conducted what they describe as the country's largest-ever drug bust, seizing a significant quantity of cocaine with an estimated street value of over $370 million. The raid took place in Duazon, approximately 20km east of the capital, Monrovia, and resulted in the arrest of several individuals, including two foreigners and multiple Liberians.
Police Chief Gregory Coleman confirmed that forensic tests verified the substance as high-grade cocaine. He stated that the operation was the culmination of a long-running investigation into drug-trafficking networks that have been active in Liberia since 2018, with intensified surveillance over the past 18 months. One of the arrested foreigners was found with both Spanish and Colombian passports, while the other possessed a Serbian passport.
Liberian Vice-President Jeremiah Koung commended the security forces for their efforts and pledged that those found guilty would face the full extent of the law. This significant seizure follows a separate incident last month where nearly 200 compressed blocks of cocaine were intercepted at Roberts International Airport, falsely declared as food seasoning and textiles.
That airport seizure sparked political controversy, leading President Joseph Boakai to order a joint investigation involving the police and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency. West Africa is recognized by international law enforcement as a critical transit hub for cocaine moving from South America to Europe, with increasing local consumption also noted. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime estimates that at least 30% of cocaine destined for Europe passes through the region, and cocaine seizures have been steadily rising since 2019.