By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
DUAZON, MONTSERRADO COUNTY – Liberia’s investigation into the country’s largest reported cocaine seizure has taken a major new turn after a joint security operation uncovered a suspected drug storage facility in Duazon, leading to the arrest of two foreign nationals and several Liberians.
The operation on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, resulted in the detention of a Colombian national and a Spanish national, marking the first reported foreign arrests connected to the ongoing investigation into the July interception of a cocaine shipment valued at more than US$19 million at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
A senior member of the joint security task force told Smart News Liberia that investigators had spent weeks gathering intelligence and tracking leads following the airport seizure before locating the Duazon facility.
The official said the breakthrough came after sustained investigative efforts and coordination among security agencies involved in the case.
Police are still determining the total quantity of suspected narcotics recovered from the location and conducting an assessment of its estimated street value. Security sources indicated that the amount recovered could represent a significant additional seizure.
A weapon was also reportedly recovered during the operation, while several Liberian nationals believed to have links to the alleged trafficking network are said to be in custody.
The Duazon raid represents the most significant development since security forces intercepted 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport in early July, a seizure that sparked nationwide concern and intensified calls for a transparent investigation.
The RIA cocaine case has generated public debate after reports emerged that some individuals allegedly linked to the shipment left Liberia before authorities could execute planned arrests.
The development has also attracted political attention, with opposition figures and civil society actors questioning whether all persons involved in the alleged international drug trafficking operation are being pursued equally.
The latest arrests could expand the scope of the investigation as authorities seek to identify the full network behind the shipment, establish the source and intended destination of the drugs, and determine whether Liberia was being used as a transit point for international narcotics trafficking.
Security authorities have not yet released the names of those arrested or announced the final quantity and estimated value of the drugs recovered from the Duazon location.
The public is awaiting further updates as investigators continue their work.
Smart News Liberia will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
