MONROVIA – Liberia National Police (LNP) Inspector General Gregory Coleman has confirmed that key members of an international drug cartel are now in custody following a major joint security operation that uncovered a suspected narcotics stash house in Duazon and led to the arrest of two foreign nationals.
By Jaheim T. Tumu | jaheim.tumu@frontpageafricaonline.com
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Coleman said investigators are still weighing the seized narcotics and calculating their street value before releasing the official figures.
“Now, what we’re going to do is weigh it, determine its value, and then hold a detailed press conference,” Coleman said.
The police chief described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in the ongoing investigation into the massive cocaine trafficking network linked to the June seizure of more than US$19 million worth of cocaine at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
According to Coleman, the operation has resulted in the detention of what he called the “command and control” of the cartel.
“We said that this place was not going to be for the drug business, and I want to assure each and every one of them that they will be prosecuted,” he declared.
The Duazon raid resulted in the arrest of a Colombian national and a Spanish national—the first foreign suspects apprehended in connection with the month-long investigation into the June cocaine seizure at RIA.
Several Liberian suspects have also been detained, while authorities continue to inventory and count the drugs recovered during the operation.
Coleman credited the success of the raid to the coordinated efforts of Liberia’s joint security agencies, praising what he described as strong inter-agency collaboration.
“This is where words become bonds,” he said, recalling his earlier appeal for patience from the public. “We asked over the last few weeks for the public to be patient because the investigation was ongoing.”
Authorities are expected to announce the total quantity and estimated value of the seized narcotics during a comprehensive press briefing once forensic weighing and documentation are completed.
