By Amos Harris
The Embassy of Liberia in Paris has taken a significant step toward strengthening international cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime following a high-level meeting with France’s Office Anti-Stupéfiants (OFAST), the country’s specialized anti-narcotics agency.
The meeting was led by Liberia’s Ambassador to France, Dr. Teeko Tozay Yorlay, Sr., who headed a delegation comprising Deputy Chief of Mission Emmanuel Saye Larmeh and Minister-Counselor for Press and Public Affairs Senve Darlington Tehmeh. The Liberian delegation was received by OFAST Chief Dimitri Zoulas and the agency’s Director of International Cooperation, Perrine Boudin.
During the discussions, OFAST officials outlined the agency’s mandate, organizational structure, and France’s intelligence-led strategy for combating narcotics trafficking and organized criminal networks. Both sides explored opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation through intelligence and information sharing, technical assistance, institutional capacity building, operational collaboration, and the exchange of best practices.
Ambassador Yorlay reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships aimed at addressing the growing threat of illicit drug trafficking and organized criminal networks. He stressed that closer collaboration among law enforcement agencies is critical to enhancing national, regional, and global security.
A key outcome of the meeting was Ambassador Yorlay’s proposal for the negotiation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and OFAST. The French delegation welcomed the proposal, which is expected to establish a formal framework for cooperation in intelligence sharing, technical support, training, and joint initiatives to combat transnational crime.
The two sides also proposed that a high-level Liberian delegation, including representatives from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, the Liberia National Police, and the Ministry of Justice, travel to France to advance negotiations, finalize the proposed agreement, and identify priority areas for practical cooperation.
In principle, both parties agreed that following the anticipated signing of the MoU in Paris later this year, a reciprocal high-level meeting would be held in Monrovia to officially launch the partnership, adopt an implementation roadmap, and deepen collaboration between their respective law enforcement institutions.
The discussions build on more than 170 years of diplomatic relations between Liberia and France. France formally recognized Liberia’s independence in 1852, becoming the second major world power to do so. Since then, the two nations have maintained cordial relations based on mutual respect, friendship, and shared democratic values.
Officials noted that this longstanding relationship provides a strong foundation for expanding cooperation into strategic areas such as law enforcement, counter-narcotics operations, institutional capacity building, technical assistance, and intelligence sharing.
The meeting concluded with both Liberia and France reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral ties through enhanced security cooperation. Both sides expressed confidence that the proposed Memorandum of Understanding and the planned reciprocal engagements in Paris and Monrovia would mark a new chapter in the fight against illicit drug trafficking and transnational organized crime while reinforcing the enduring partnership between the two nations.
