The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has disclosed that it is yet to identify the owners of six boxes containing cocaine valued at more than US$12 million that were recently intercepted at the Roberts International Airport (RIA).
Speaking to DN-News Wednesday, LDEA Chief of Public Affairs, Olando Demey, said the illicit substances were discovered during a routine luggage inspection carried out by airport security personnel. “The drugs were discovered during a routine inspection at the Roberts International Airport, and since then, we have launched a full-scale investigation. Several individuals are currently being questioned, but we are yet to determine the actual owners of the consignment. We remain committed to ensuring that everyone connected to this operation is identified and brought to justice,” Demey told DN-News.
According to Demey, the seizure has triggered an intensive investigation involving several individuals believed to have had knowledge of or involvement in the attempted trafficking operation.
Reports gathered by DN-News indicate that more than ten persons are currently in LDEA custody undergoing questioning. Among those being investigated is a female airport employee who reportedly conducted the scanning procedure that led to the discovery of the drugs. Investigators say the woman has maintained that she does not know the owner of the boxes or how the shipment was processed through the airport.
Sources familiar with the investigation revealed that the six seized boxes were part of a larger consignment of ten boxes that had reportedly been prepared for shipment to Europe aboard Brussels Airlines.
Intelligence reports further suggest that four of the ten boxes had already left Liberia before authorities uncovered the narcotics concealed in the remaining six boxes, raising concerns about the possibility that a significant quantity of drugs may have successfully passed through airport security undetected.
Demey also disclosed that some of the individuals suspected of being connected to the trafficking scheme had already departed Liberia before the drugs were discovered, complicating efforts by investigators to establish the full network behind the operation.
As part of the ongoing probe, the LDEA has arrested the airport’s Logistics Director along with several other individuals whose identities have not yet been made public. Authorities say additional arrests remain possible as investigators continue to gather evidence and trace the origins and intended recipients of the shipment.
The seizure has sparked widespread public interest and concern, with many Liberians demanding answers regarding who imported the massive consignment of cocaine into the country and how such a large quantity of narcotics was able to make its way through airport procedures.
The interception represents one of the largest drug seizures in recent Liberian history and has renewed scrutiny of security measures at the country’s main international gateway.
Meanwhile, the LDEA says investigations remain active and has assured the public that every effort is being made to identify the individuals responsible and ensure they are brought to justice. Authorities have urged citizens to remain patient as investigators work to unravel what appears to be a sophisticated international drug trafficking operation.
