Reported by: Puis Althea | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Liberian security forces have seized nearly four tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding $370 million, marking the largest drug bust in the country's history and delivering a significant blow to transnational drug-trafficking networks operating in West Africa. The raid, conducted on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, targeted a suspected illegal storage facility in the Duazon area, a town approximately 20 kilometres east of the capital, Monrovia. The operation was the culmination of a long-running intelligence investigation into drug-trafficking syndicates that have used Liberia as a transit hub.
Police Chief Gregory Coleman confirmed that forensic tests verified the substance as high-grade cocaine. The seizure, weighing 3,971 kilograms, is nearly 17 times the weight of the 237.6 kilograms intercepted at Roberts International Airport in June 2026 and ranks among the most significant hauls ever reported in West Africa. Authorities arrested two foreign nationals at the scene who were in possession of a firearm. The men were identified as Johann David Garces Grajales, holding both Colombian and Spanish passports, and Srdan Seles, a Serbian national. However, investigators have expressed doubt about the authenticity of the names, noting that open-source searches yielded no records for either individual.
The scale of the discovery stunned even the investigators who had been tracking the cartel. A member of the joint security team revealed that while the operation was based on sustained intelligence, the team did not expect to find such a massive stash. "What we saw really blew my mind," the officer said. Preliminary analysis estimated the street value of the cocaine at approximately $317.69 million, though police have since placed the value at over $370 million. Investigators believe the drugs had been in the country for some time and are working to trace how the shipment entered Liberia. The ownership of the warehouse remains unknown.
The Duazon operation follows the interception of six cargo boxes at Roberts International Airport last month, which contained nearly 200 compressed blocks of cocaine falsely declared as food seasoning and textiles. That seizure sparked political controversy, with critics accusing authorities of moving too slowly to identify suspects, raising concerns that some individuals linked to the case had left the country before arrests could be made. President Joseph Boakai subsequently ordered a joint investigation involving police and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency. Several suspects have since been charged, and international arrest warrants are being pursued for others still at large.
Liberian Vice-President Jeremiah Koung praised the security forces for the operation and issued a stern warning to those involved in drug trafficking. "Whosoever was found culpable would feel the full weight of the law, regardless of who you are," Koung said. West Africa has long been regarded by international law enforcement agencies as a key transit route for cocaine trafficked from South America to Europe. According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, at least 30 per cent of cocaine destined for Europe now passes through the region. Cocaine seizures in West Africa have increased steadily since 2019, reaching about 30 tonnes in 2025. The United Nations has warned about the growing threat posed by drug-trafficking networks in the region, describing the increasingly sophisticated operations launched by drug cartels as "an issue of great concerns".
Liberia has experienced several high-profile drug seizures in recent years, including a 520-kilogram cocaine haul intercepted at Monrovia's seaport in 2022. Since taking office in 2024, President Boakai has reshuffled the leadership of Liberia's drug enforcement agency multiple times as his government faces growing pressure to curb trafficking. The record-breaking seizure represents a significant victory in Liberia's fight against drug trafficking and sends a clear message that the country will not tolerate being used as a transit point for illegal narcotics. Authorities have vowed to continue their investigation until all those responsible for the trafficking network are brought to justice.
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