Liberian police say they seized high-grade cocaine worth more than $370m near Monrovia in the country's largest-ever drugs bust. The raid in Duazon resulted in multiple arrests, including two foreigners, and followed a recent airport interception of nearly 200 compressed cocaine blocks. Officials say the operation is the result of long-term surveillance into trafficking networks; the shipment's origin and destination remain under investigation. Regional agencies warn West Africa continues to be a key transit route for cocaine to Europe.
Liberia's Biggest Ever Cocaine Bust: $370M Seized Near Monrovia
Liberian Vice-President Jeremiah Koung praised the security forces for the operation [Liberia National Police/Facebook]
Liberian authorities have seized what forensic tests say is high-grade cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $370m (£220m) in the largest drugs bust in the nation's history. The haul was discovered during a raid on a suspected illegal storage site in Duazon, roughly 20km east of Monrovia.
Details of the Raid
Police-released photos and video showed dozens of sealed suitcases and boxes loaded inside a lorry that investigators believed contained the cocaine. Liberia National Police chief Gregory Coleman said forensic analysis confirmed the substance as cocaine and described the seizure as the result of a long-running investigation into trafficking networks operating in the country.
It is still unclear from where the drugs originated or their intended destination [Liberia National Police/Facebook]
'Between 2018 and 2023, apparently there was a resurface of major trafficking and transiting in Liberia. Over the last one-and-a-half years, we've been surveilling them and this is the result of that operation,' Coleman said.
Arrests And Passport Details
Several people were arrested during the operation, including two foreign nationals and multiple Liberians. Authorities said one foreign detainee was carrying two passports — Spanish and Colombian — while the other held a Serbian passport. No formal charges have yet been announced as investigations continue.
Related Airport Interception
The Duazon raid follows a separate seizure at Roberts International Airport the previous month, when six cargo boxes falsely declared as food seasoning and textiles were found to contain nearly 200 compressed blocks of cocaine. That airport interception prompted a joint inquiry ordered by President Joseph Boakai after critics said authorities had been slow to identify suspects.
[BBC]
Wider Context
International agencies have long identified West Africa as a major transit corridor for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe, exploiting porous borders and weak enforcement in parts of the region. The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime has estimated that at least 30% of cocaine bound for Europe passes through West Africa, and reported that regional cocaine seizures rose to about 30 tonnes in 2025. The UN has warned that increasingly sophisticated cartel operations pose a growing threat to the region.
Liberia has seen other high-profile seizures in recent years, including a 520kg cocaine haul intercepted at Monrovia's seaport in 2022. Since taking office in 2024, President Boakai has reshuffled the leadership of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency amid rising pressure to tackle trafficking.
What Happens Next
Authorities say they are still tracing the shipment's origin and intended destination and pursuing international leads. Some suspects linked to earlier seizures have been charged and international arrest warrants issued for others believed to be at large. Officials emphasise that further forensic work and cross-border cooperation will be central to the ongoing investigation.
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