Liberians have been awakened by news of another drug bust, just a few months after US$100 Million raw cocaine was arrested in Monrovia based on United States security tipoff.
Liberian security experts put the cost of the latest bust at the Freeport of Monrovia to about US$40 Million.
Again, TRH, a firm owned by George Abijaodi and Bildal Ibrahim, two Lebanese merchants, brought in the drug as was the first catch.
Unlike the first US$100 Million catch last October which was made possible by the U.S. Government, there is no clear statement by the government as to who signaled the arrest.
Top sources at the Freeport of Monrovia told Smart News that the drugs were arrested based on the alertness of some whistle-blowers in the port.
But just hours after the arrest, TRH, the firm in whose containers the US$40 Million drugs were arrested, issued a statement indicating that it raised the red flag that led to the catch.
The statement issued by TRH: “On Monday, January 30, 2023, TRH Trading Corporation, the largest importer of frozen foods in Liberia, alerted authorities of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), the Liberia Seaport Police, the Liberia Maritime Authority and the Port Facility Security Office in Liberia to yet another attempt by drug smugglers to bring narcotics in the country.
“The container seized on Monday is marked MNBU4204747 with products manufactured by BRF, the Brazil Frozen Food company which supplies frozen goods to multiple countries around the world. The drugs seized Monday at the Freeport of Monrovia were stored in 11 packs worth millions of dollars.
“The drugs seizure Monday marks the second time in as many months that TRH Trading has brought to the attention of authorities, attempts by drug smugglers to infiltrate the system in Liberia.
Last October, TRH, working with local authorities also proved instrumental when a reported US$100 million worth of cocaine was seized, marking the biggest operation in Liberia’s history.
The bust capped a long line of recent smuggling operations in which criminal gangs have been using Liberia to tranship drugs.”
However, sources said, the statement by TRH is an attempt to cover up that they are actually involved in the drug trade.
Contrary to the TRH’s press statement, it is evidence that the last US$100 Million drug catch was made possible by intelligence provided by the United States Government, and not the TRH.
Our sources said, in fact, the owners of TRH are allegedly the real culprits and therefore cannot play safe by claiming to be the ones that alerted the government of the drugs. Details to follow.
