By Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Investigations into the interception of approximately US$19 million worth of cocaine at Roberts International Airport (RIA) have widened significantly, with both the House of Representatives and the judiciary launching intensified actions aimed at uncovering how one of Liberia’s largest drug seizures was carried out at the country’s main international gateway.
The development follows the discovery of the illicit shipment linked to a Brussels Airlines flight on Monday, June 8, 2026, an incident that has triggered national concern over airport security procedures and possible internal involvement.
According to reports gathered by Smart News, the House of Representatives has formally summoned officials of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA) to appear before lawmakers as part of an ongoing legislative probe into the matter. The Authority is expected to be represented by its Deputy Managing Director for Administration, who will provide explanations regarding airport operations, cargo handling processes, and any possible lapses that may have contributed to the breach.
Lawmakers are seeking answers on how a large consignment of narcotics could pass through a heavily secured international airport, amid rising suspicions of procedural weaknesses, negligence, or potential insider complicity.
In a separate but related development, the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County has issued an order requiring airport management to produce critical documents and surveillance footage as part of the criminal investigation.
Acting on a request from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), the court’s subpoena compels Roberts International Airport authorities to submit shipping waybills, cargo records, and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) recordings linked to the movement and interception of about 237 kilograms of cocaine discovered in six export-bound cargo boxes.
The order, signed by Resident Circuit Judge Victoria Worlobah Duncan, also directs airport officials to appear before the court on June 22, while submitting records covering June 5 to June 8, the period during which the suspicious cargo was first flagged, inspected, and later transferred to the LDEA.
Investigators have further expanded their request to include records dating back to May 22, as part of efforts to reconstruct the full chain of movement of the shipment and identify all individuals who may have come into contact with it prior to its seizure.
The court action reflects an expansion of the investigation, which now includes possible insider participation in what is being described as one of the largest drug interceptions in Liberia’s history.
Sources close to the probe indicate that at least six airport security officers are currently being interrogated to determine whether proper screening procedures were followed and whether any personnel had prior knowledge of the shipment.
Those being questioned reportedly include Mohammed Gbowrah, Roland G. Taylor, Benjamin Rivercess, Henry King, Geraldin Zeon, and Ruth Gbapaywhea.
In addition, Executive Protection Service (EPS) personnel assigned to the VIP Lounge at RIA have also been called in for questioning as investigators examine whether restricted zones or VIP clearance channels may have been used to facilitate the attempted export.
Authorities have clarified that no formal charges have been filed against any of the officers or EPS personnel, stressing that the interviews are part of a wider effort to uncover the network behind the trafficking attempt.
Interestingly, some of the same officers now under investigation were reportedly among those who first detected the suspicious cargo during routine screening at the GLS/Menzies Cargo Warehouse.
Preliminary accounts suggest that on June 5, security personnel flagged six export-bound cargo boxes after X-ray screening revealed unusual density patterns inconsistent with the declared contents.
An X-ray operator reportedly noticed irregular imaging that raised suspicion, prompting a request for physical inspection.
However, the inspection was delayed until June 7 due to the absence of the consignor’s representative and the fact that the cargo was not scheduled for immediate departure.
When the boxes were finally opened in the presence of the representative, officers allegedly discovered a white powdery substance concealed within the cargo, prompting immediate notification of the LDEA.
Subsequent testing by the agency confirmed the substance as Cocaine Hydrochloride.
Investigators have determined that each of the six boxes contained 33 parcels of cocaine, making the seizure one of the most significant drug interceptions ever recorded in Liberia.
The shipping documents and waybills now being demanded are expected to help authorities verify the identities of consignors, freight handlers, clearing agents, and any companies linked to the attempted export.
It may be recalled that the LDEA announced on June 8, 2026, the seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at RIA, with an estimated street value exceeding US$19 million, intercepted on a Brussels Airlines flight.
