Liberia’s President Boakai Dismisses 12 Senior Officials Over Cocaine Seizures

Liberian President Joseph Boakai has taken decisive action in response to multiple record-breaking cocaine seizures in recent weeks, dismissing 12 senior officials from the Roberts International Airport, national police, and security agencies. He has also ordered investigations into some of those removed.

Two Major Cocaine Seizures Trigger Disciplinary Measures

The dismissals follow two large-scale drug interdictions. The first involved nearly four tonnes of cocaine—valued at more than $300 million—seized near the capital, Monrovia, in July. The second occurred weeks earlier at the Roberts International Airport, where authorities confiscated over 230 kilograms of cocaine.

Scope of the Dismissals

According to a report by Radio France Internationale, those dismissed include prominent figures from the airport, police force, and intelligence services. The move is described as unprecedented and underscores the scale of drug trafficking operations within Liberia.

"Drugs Trade Is Deeply Rooted"

Liberian analyst Abdullah Kiatamba stated that the dismissals reveal how entrenched the narcotics trade has become in the country. “This shows that the drugs trade is deeply rooted in Liberia for years; corruption has reached the police, intelligence services, and other security agencies. We are not only uncovering drugs—we are exposing complicity inside state institutions.”

Kiatamba added: “This is not new. Since 2019, there have been documented cases of police officers escorting drug shipments. Each time authorities deepen their investigations, the true extent of this network becomes clearer.”

Attention now turns to President Boakai to determine next steps in the investigations and potential judicial proceedings. Some observers believe these initial sanctions reflect only a fraction of the broader problem.