President Joseph N. Boakai has vowed to go beyond the arrest of couriers and low-level suspects in the ongoing investigation into the seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport, declaring that his administration is determined to identify and prosecute the masterminds behind the multi-million-dollar drug operation.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, President Boakai described the cocaine seizure, estimated to have a street value of more than US$19 million, as one of the largest narcotics interceptions in Liberia’s history and warned that criminal organizations seeking to use Liberia as a hub for drug trafficking would find no refuge in the country.
“We are not interested only in intercepting drugs or arresting couriers. We are determined to expose and destroy the networks that finance, coordinate, facilitate, and profit from this criminal activity,” he added.
The President’s remarks signal an aggressive shift toward dismantling the broader criminal enterprise behind the shipment rather than focusing solely on individuals directly involved in transporting the drugs.
However, Boakai announced that he has instructed the National Joint Security, operating under the authority of the National Security Council, to lead a comprehensive investigation into the case, adding that the operation is being coordinated by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP), with support from other national security and law enforcement institutions.
The Liberian leader said investigators will pursue two key objectives: identifying and prosecuting everyone directly connected to the shipment and uncovering the financiers, facilitators, public officials, and international actors who may have played roles in the operation.
“Whether they operate within Liberia or beyond our borders, whether they are private citizens, public officials, financiers, facilitators, or foreign actors, they will face the full force of the law,” he warned. In one of the strongest statements of his administration’s anti-drug campaign, Boakai declared that no individual or institution would be shielded from scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.
“This investigation will follow the evidence wherever it leads. No person will be untouchable. No institution will be shielded from scrutiny. No criminal network will escape justice,” he asserted.
The President also announced increased cooperation with international law enforcement and security agencies to strengthen intelligence sharing, financial investigations, forensic analysis, and cross-border operations aimed at dismantling the criminal network behind the shipment.
According to Boakai, a high-level Liberian delegation has already been dispatched to engage international partners and coordinate efforts to identify and prosecute all those connected to the drug trafficking enterprise. While acknowledging growing public interest in the case, the President urged Liberians to remain patient and allow investigators to carry out their work without interference.
He cautioned that premature disclosure of sensitive information could compromise the investigation and hinder future prosecutions. Also, Boakai reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting Liberia’s borders, safeguarding national institutions, and preserving the country’s international reputation.
“The fight against drug trafficking is beyond a law enforcement challenge; it is a fight for the future of our young people, the security of our communities, the credibility of our institutions, and the prosperity of our nation,” he said.
The President concluded with a warning to those involved in the illicit drug trade, declaring that Liberia remains open for legitimate business but “not open for the business of drug trafficking.”
With one of the country’s largest-ever cocaine seizures now under investigation, attention is increasingly focused on whether authorities can uncover the “big fish” behind the US$19 million drug shipment and bring them to justice.
