Cocaine worth $370m seized in Liberia's biggest-ever drugs bust

Cocaine worth $370m seized in Liberia's biggest-ever drugs bust Liberian Vice-President Jeremiah Koung praised the information forces for the cognition and said whosoever was recovered culpable would "feel the afloat value of the law, careless of who you are". The Duazon cognition follows the interception of six cargo boxes at Roberts International Airport past period after information officers detected irregularities during screening. The shipment, falsely declared as containing nutrient seasoning and textiles, was recovered to incorporate about 200 compressed blocks of cocaine destined for export, according to investigators. The airport seizure sparked governmental contention after critics accused the authorities of moving excessively dilatory to place suspects, raising concerns that immoderate radical linked to the lawsuit had near the state earlier arrests could be made. President Joseph Boakai subsequently ordered an associated probe involving police and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA). Several suspects have since been charged and planetary apprehension warrants are being pursued for others inactive at large. West Africa has long been regarded by planetary instrumentality enforcement agencies as a cardinal transit way for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe, taking advantage of porous borders and anemic enforcement successful parts of the region. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, at least 30% of cocaine destined for Europe present passes done the region, portion section cocaine consumption, including ace cocaine, has besides been rising. The organisation says cocaine seizures successful West Africa have accrued steadily since 2019, reaching almost 30 tonnes in 2025. The UN has also warned about the increasing menace posed by drug-trafficking networks successful the region, saying the "increasingly blase operations launched by cause cartels is an contented of large concerns". Liberia has experienced respective high-profile cause seizures in caller years, including a 520kg cocaine haul intercepted at Monrovia's seaport in 2022. Since taking bureau successful 2024, President Boakai has reshuffled the enactment of Liberia's cause enforcement bureau respective times, as his authorities faces increasing unit to tackle the problem.