Liberian authorities have seized approximately 3,971 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of $317 million in one of the largest drug interceptions recorded in the country, according to the Liberia National Police.
The seizure was made in Duazon, a town east of the capital Monrovia, where police officers discovered the drugs stored inside a residential property. Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the shipment, including one individual holding Spanish and Colombian passports and another with a Serbian passport.
Images released by the police showed cardboard boxes and suitcases containing packages wrapped in cling film and marked with labels including “Coco” and “Poseidon”. Authorities said the origin of the cocaine had not yet been established, with chemical analysis and further examination of markings required to determine where the shipment originated.
Liberia’s latest seizure comes amid wider concerns over the use of parts of West Africa as transit points in global cocaine trafficking networks. The region’s geographic position between South America and Europe has made some coastal states vulnerable to exploitation by international criminal organisations seeking alternative routes for transporting and storing narcotics.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has previously highlighted the evolving nature of transnational organised crime networks operating across Africa, noting that trafficking groups frequently adapt their routes and methods in response to law enforcement pressure.
Last month, Liberian authorities intercepted 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport outside Monrovia. Police said that shipment, which was reportedly travelling from Sierra Leone to the United Kingdom, had been linked to investigations involving European organised crime networks. Authorities have not established a connection between that case and the latest seizure.
Liberian police said investigations into the current operation remain ongoing, with further inquiries expected to focus on identifying the supply chain, intended destination and individuals involved in facilitating the movement of the drugs.
Experts on organised crime have noted that recent seizures across West Africa reflect broader shifts in global narcotics trafficking, with criminal networks increasingly using multiple jurisdictions for storage, transit and distribution. Analysts say these activities place additional pressure on African states to strengthen regional cooperation, intelligence sharing and border management while addressing the broader economic and governance challenges that can be exploited by criminal groups.
The seizure also underscores the need for a balanced understanding of Africa’s role in global illicit markets. While parts of the continent have been targeted as transit routes by international trafficking networks, African law enforcement agencies have continued to expand efforts to disrupt these operations through domestic investigations and cooperation with international partners.
Liberian authorities said the investigation into the seized cocaine remains active, and additional arrests may follow as officials work to determine the full scope of the trafficking operation.
