African state makes largest-ever cocaine bust (VIDEO, PHOTOS)

Two foreign nationals, including a dual Colombian-Spanish citizen, have been detained over the nearly four-ton haul, Liberian authorities have said

Liberian authorities have seized nearly four metric tons of cocaine valued at more than $317 million in the West African nation’s largest-ever drug bust, the Justice Ministry has announced.

The 3,971kg haul was discovered on Tuesday during a court-authorized search of a property in Duazon, a community in Margibi County outside the capital, Monrovia, along the highway to Roberts International Airport.

Two foreign nationals, one Serbian and the other holding Colombian and Spanish citizenship, were detained and are assisting investigators, Liberian Justice Minister and Attorney General Oswald Tweh told reporters on Wednesday. Their names have been withheld to protect the investigation, Tweh said.

“Any individual regardless of nationality, position, or status against whom credible and visible evidence is established will be held accountable,” he stated.

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Tweh said the raid followed intelligence gathered during an investigation into transnational drug trafficking. The investigation has uncovered evidence of an “organized, sophisticated, complex and well-funded narcotics trafficking network” that may have operated in Liberia for more than six years, according to the minister. Investigators are examining the drugs’ origin, ownership, transportation method, and intended destination, as well as possible domestic and international networks, financial transactions and logistical support.

Officers also recovered diving suits, a firearm, GPS tracking devices, a drone and Starlink satellite internet equipment. The items are undergoing forensic examination.

The latest operation follows the seizure of 237.6kg of cocaine, valued at $19 million, at Roberts International Airport last month. The shipment had allegedly been disguised as food seasoning, and five suspects have since been charged. In October 2022, the authorities seized 520kg of cocaine worth an estimated $100 million at a cold-storage facility near Monrovia’s seaport. The drugs had arrived in a container shipped from Brazil.

West Africa is a major transit corridor for cocaine trafficked from South America. At least 30% of the cocaine destined for European markets passes through the region, according to a recent report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime.

In neighboring Nigeria, 11 Indian sailors were convicted last month over 31.5kg of cocaine seized from their vessel. The anti-narcotics authority seized one ton of cocaine worth $235 million last November. It dismantled a methamphetamine laboratory containing drugs and chemicals valued at $363 million in May, the country’s largest-ever drug seizure by value.