By Wilmot Konah
MONROVIA, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has vowed that no individual or criminal organization linked to the recent seizure of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport will evade prosecution, declaring that Liberia will not serve as a safe haven for drug traffickers.
In a nationwide address on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, President Boakai described the cocaine seizure, valued at more than US$19 million, as one of the largest narcotics interdictions in Liberia’s history and a clear indication that transnational criminal networks continue to target West Africa as a transit corridor for illicit drugs.
The President stressed that while Liberia remains open for legitimate business, it is not open for the business of drug trafficking. He warned that any individual, group, or network seeking to exploit Liberia’s territory, corrupt its institutions, endanger its youth, or undermine national security would be identified and brought to justice.
Boakai disclosed that he has ordered a full-scale investigation under the National Joint Security and the National Security Council. The probe is being coordinated by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency and the Liberia National Police, with support from several security and law enforcement institutions.
According to the President, the investigation will focus on identifying and prosecuting those directly connected to the cocaine shipment while also dismantling the broader criminal enterprise behind the operation. He said authorities are determined to expose those who finance, coordinate, facilitate, and profit from drug trafficking activities.
The Liberian leader further announced strengthened cooperation with international law enforcement agencies through intelligence sharing, financial tracking, forensic analysis, and cross-border investigations. He revealed that a high-level delegation has already been dispatched to engage international partners and enhance efforts to identify and disrupt all networks connected to the trafficking operation.
Declaring that the investigation would follow the evidence wherever it leads, Boakai assured the nation that no one would be above the law. “No criminal network will escape justice,” the President warned, adding that no institution would be shielded from scrutiny and no person considered untouchable.
While acknowledging public demands for information, Boakai urged Liberians to remain calm and patient, cautioning that premature disclosure of sensitive details could compromise the investigation, destroy evidence, and jeopardize ongoing operations.
He pledged that the investigation would be conducted with professionalism, integrity, transparency, and accountability, with information released to the public at appropriate stages.
Boakai reaffirmed that the fight against drug trafficking is a battle for the future of Liberia’s young people, the security of communities, and the credibility of national institutions, vowing that those who seek to profit from the suffering of Liberians will find no refuge in the country.
