On Thursday, July 30, 2026, Liberian law enforcement agents burned approximately 4.2 metric tons of cocaine valued at about $336 million in Caraysburg, northeast of Monrovia. This event followed the announcement of Liberia's largest-ever drug seizure and the implication of senior police officials in the trafficking operation.

Authorities revealed that investigators identified officers who allegedly helped escort the cocaine after its arrival in Liberia. The chief of the highway patrol and the head of the major crimes unit have been charged, while a deputy police commander at Roberts International Airport, the country's main airport, is also a suspect, according to Police Inspector General Gregory O.W.

The Justice Ministry reported that the cocaine was recovered during a raid at a property in Duazon, approximately 28 kilometers from Monrovia. Two foreign nationals—a Serbian and a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen—were arrested and are currently being questioned.

Last week, Liberian authorities seized nearly 4 metric tons (8,818 pounds) of cocaine with an estimated street value of around $317 million, describing the bust as the biggest in the country's history. Additionally, Liberia's police and drug enforcement agencies burned 237 kilograms (522 pounds) of cocaine valued at over $19 million, seized in June at Roberts International Airport.

According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, at least 30% of cocaine destined for Europe now passes through the region, with local consumption, including crack cocaine, also on the rise.

Sources