Viral Video Shows Liberia Burning 4.2 Tonnes of Cocaine Worth USD 336 Million Seized in Record Drug Bust
Liberian authorities burned about 4.2 metric tons of cocaine worth an estimated USD 336 million after the country's biggest-ever drug seizure. The operation followed the arrest of two foreign nationals and the identification of senior police officials allegedly linked to the trafficking network, as Liberia intensified its crackdown on organised drug crime.
Liberian authorities on Thursday destroyed about 4.2 metric tons of cocaine worth an estimated USD 336 million, days after announcing the country's largest-ever drug seizure and linking senior police officials to the alleged trafficking operation. A video showing the destruction of the seized narcotics has since gone viral on social media.
The operation follows last week's record drug bust, during which authorities recovered nearly 4 metric tons of cocaine and arrested two foreign nationals as part of an investigation into what officials described as a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking network. Mexican Drug Lord ‘El Mencho’ Buried in Golden Coffin in Guadalajara Under Tight Security.
Liberia Burns 4.2 Tonnes of Cocaine Worth USD 336 Million
Record Drug Seizure and Arrests
According to Liberia's Justice Ministry, investigators recovered nearly 4 metric tons of cocaine during a raid at a property in Duazon, around 28 kilometres from the capital, Monrovia.
Authorities arrested a Serbian national and a dual Colombian-Spanish national, who are currently being questioned as part of the investigation. Officials described the seizure as the biggest drug bust in Liberia's history, with an estimated street value of approximately USD 317 million. Daniel Kinahan Arrested: Major Blow to Kinahan Cartel As Drug Kingpin Detained in Dubai on Irish Warrant.
Senior Police Officials Under Investigation
Police Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman said investigators had identified officers who allegedly helped escort the drugs after they entered Liberia.
Authorities said the chief of the highway patrol and the head of the major crimes unit have been charged in connection with the case. A deputy police commander at Roberts International Airport has also been identified as a suspect. The investigation into the alleged trafficking network remains ongoing.
The destroyed drugs included the cocaine seized during last week's raid as well as an additional 237 kilograms of cocaine, valued at more than USD 19 million, that had been recovered in June at Roberts International Airport.
Explaining the decision to destroy the narcotics, Coleman said the burning was intended to send: “a clear message” that Liberia was no longer “a place of comfort” for drug traffickers.
West Africa's Growing Role in Drug Trafficking
The latest seizure highlights the growing role of West Africa as a transit hub for cocaine shipments moving from South America to Europe.
According to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, at least 30% of the cocaine destined for Europe now passes through West Africa, where traffickers exploit porous borders and limited enforcement capacity.
The organisation also notes that local cocaine consumption, including crack cocaine, has increased across parts of the region in recent years.
Liberian authorities say the latest operation forms part of broader efforts to dismantle transnational trafficking networks and strengthen enforcement against organised drug crime.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 31, 2026 02:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).