Liberia: U.S.$19.2m Cocaine Shipment Busted At International Airport

Liberia: U.S.$19.2m Cocaine Shipment Busted At International Airport

The interception of 198 compressed plates of cocaine valued at an estimated US$19.2 million at Roberts International Airport (RIA) has once again placed Liberia at the center of West Africa's expanding narcotics trafficking corridor, raising urgent questions about the country's evolving role as a trans-shipment route--and the legal outcomes that have followed earlier high-profile drug cases.

Major Cocaine Bust at RIA

By Kruah Thompson MONROVIA, June 10, 2026 – Joint security officers at Robert International Airport (RIA) intercepted 198 plates of compressed cocaine hidden in six cargo boxes at the airport’s cargo terminal, authorities said. Authorities said the shipment, seized on Monday, June 8, had an estimated street value of US$1,922,600, or about L$365.3 million. The operation followed intelligence received by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency that th…

US$19.2M Cocaine Shipment Busted at RIA

The interception of 198 plates of cocaine valued at US$19.2 million at Liberia's RIA raises concerns about drug trafficking in West Africa amidst judicial challenges hindering convictions.

US$19.2 Million Cocaine Shipment Worth Over LRD 3.6 Billion Seized At RIA - Global News Network Liberia

By Amos Harris MONROVIA — The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has announced the seizure of a massive cocaine shipment valued at approximately US$19.2 million (more than LRD 3.6 billion). Authorities describe the operation as one of the largest drug interceptions in Liberia’s recent history. The narcotics bust, carried out on June 8, 2026, involved 198 compressed plates of cocaine concealed inside six cargo boxes. The contraband was allege…

COCAINE WORTH MILLIONS INTERCEPTED, BUT THE BIGGER QUESTION IS HOW IT GOT THIS FAR

By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia MONROVIA, LIBERIA- The interception of 198 compressed plates of cocaine at Roberts International Airport should be celebrated as a major operational success for Liberia’s security apparatus. Yet beyond the headlines, the seizure raises troubling questions about the depth of organized drug trafficking networks operating within Liberia and the vulnerabilities that continue to make the country attracti…