Monrovia – Liberia is at a crossroads. As West Africa becomes an increasingly critical hub in the global drug trade, the country’s fragile justice system and porous borders are allowing international traffickers to operate with near impunity.
By Rodney D. Sieh, [email protected]
A recent surge in high-profile drug seizures—paired with a deeply flawed judicial response—has placed Liberia in the spotlight. The latest arrests and drug busts reveal a nation struggling to contain a crisis that threatens its security, economy, and public health.
Drug Trafficking on the Rise
On 8 February 2025, Liberian authorities intercepted a shipment of 234kg of cocaine at Bo Waterside, a key border crossing with Sierra Leone. The seizure led to the arrest of 44-year-old Nigerian national David Dioumessy, who had transported the drugs from Guinea into Liberia.
While significant, this bust is only the latest in a series of alarming drug-related incidents. Liberia’s geographical position and its weak border controls have made it a prime target for traffickers moving narcotics from South America into Europe via West Africa.
The $100 Million Cocaine Scandal Perhaps the most shocking example of Liberia’s struggles with the drug trade came in October 2022, when security forces seized 520kg of cocaine hidden in a frozen food container. The haul, worth more than $100 million, was traced back to a network operating between Liberia, Brazil, and Guinea-Bissau.
Authorities arrested multiple suspects, including a Portuguese national and a Lebanese businessman. However, in a move that exposed deep flaws within Liberia’s judicial system, a jury acquitted them in May 2023. Within hours of their release, the suspects fled the country, taking with them the $200,000 in cash that had been seized during the operation.
This controversial acquittal not only damaged Liberia’s credibility in the fight against drugs but also raised serious concerns about corruption within the legal system. The lack of consequences for such a major crime has emboldened traffickers and deepened public mistrust in law enforcement.
Just one year after the justice system in Liberia allowed several suspects accused of trafficking drugs into Liberia, to escape, Africa’s oldest republic continues to be plagued by a rapidly rising drug epidemic. In the last few months alone, there have been numerous reports of drug seizure at the border with Sierra Leone and multiple arrests of travelers with drugs at the Roberts International Airport. All this coming in the backdrop of happenings in its next-door neighbor, Sierra Leone where President Mada Bio’s government is struggling to contain a spiraling scandal—one that threatens not just its own stability but the security of the entire Mano River Union. The presence of Dutch drug kingpin Jos Leijdekkers, one of Europe’s most wanted criminals, has exposed deep cracks in the country’s law enforcement, raising fears that Sierra Leone is sliding into the grip of the global cocaine trade – and Liberia, next in the firing line is also struggling to wave off international traffickers who have embedded themselves deeper putting the West Africa sub-region in peril and neighboring countries risk of being dragged into a regional narco-crisis that could fuel corruption, violence, and economic fallout. This two-part investigation exposes the full scale of the threat—first in Sierra Leone, where the crisis began, and next in Liberia, where the warning signs are already flashing red.
This incident is only the latest in a series of alarming drug-related cases along the two country’s borders – Liberia’s geographical position and its weak border controls have made it a prime target for traffickers moving narcotics from South America into Europe via West Africa.
West Africa’s Role in the Global Drug Trade
Liberia’s troubles do not exist in isolation. West Africa has long been a major transit point for international drug cartels, particularly those smuggling South American cocaine into Europe.
Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ivory Coast have all faced similar challenges, with criminal networks exploiting weak institutions and bribing officials to facilitate their trade. The Bo Waterside border crossing—where the recent 234kg cocaine bust occurred—has become a key trafficking route, connecting Liberia to Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Infrastructure developments meant to boost trade have, unfortunately, also make it easier for criminals to move illicit substances across borders undetected.
The Sierra Leone Connection
Sierra Leone, Liberia’s western neighbor, has also been implicated in high-level drug scandals. In these first two months of 2025, Dutch drug kingpin Jos Leijdekkers—one of Europe’s most wanted criminals—was found to have been living in Sierra Leone – hiding in plain sight. Dutch authorities initially said he’d been in the country for at least six months. That figure has now been revised upwards to about 2 years.
A high-level security source told Frontpage Africa that he even traveled to Monrovia multiple times. Leijdekkers’ ability to operate freely in the region has raised serious concerns about government complicity or, at the very least, the failure of security forces to act decisively. His presence highlights how deeply West Africa is entangled in the global drug trade, with major traffickers viewing the region as a safe haven.
A Justice System in Crisis
One of the biggest factors contributing to Liberia’s drug crisis is its weak and often dysfunctional justice system.
The acquittal of the suspects in the $100 million cocaine case sent a dangerous message—that traffickers can evade justice with the right connections. Legal proceedings in drug cases are often marred by delays, bribery, and political interference.
Many suspect that powerful figures within Liberia’s security and judicial systems are either complicit or turning a blind eye in exchange for financial incentives. Additionally, the country lacks sufficient infrastructure to properly investigate and prosecute major drug crimes. Law enforcement agencies remain underfunded, with poorly trained officers and inadequate forensic capabilities.
This makes it nearly impossible to dismantle the sophisticated networks operating in the country. The Impact on Liberia’s Youth Beyond the international smuggling operations, Liberia is also facing a growing domestic drug problem. The widespread availability of narcotics has led to increased addiction rates, particularly among young people.
Substances like kush, a highly addictive synthetic drug, have become prevalent in urban centers, creating a new public health crisis. Rehabilitation centers are scarce, leaving many addicts without support. The rise in drug-related crime and violence has further destabilized communities, making it clear that Liberia’s failure to tackle trafficking is having consequences beyond just international smuggling. A Government on the Backfoot.
The administration of President Joseph Boakai now faces immense pressure to take decisive action. However, so far, responses have been slow and largely ineffective. Attempts to strengthen anti-drug laws and increase border security have been hampered by lack of funding and entrenched corruption.
Regional cooperation with neighboring countries has also been inconsistent, allowing traffickers to exploit jurisdictional loopholes. Without urgent reforms, Liberia risks becoming an entrenched hub for international drug cartels, with long-term consequences for national security and economic development.
International Assistance and Regional Cooperation
Western diplomats are concerned that if Liberia is to regain control over its borders and justice system, it must engage in stronger regional cooperation.
Countries like Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Ghana are also struggling with trafficking networks, making a coordinated West African response essential. Increased support from international partners, including Interpol, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), and the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), could help bolster Liberia’s investigative and law enforcement capacity.
Reforming the Judiciary and Law Enforcement
Liberia’s judicial system needs urgent reform. Without a functioning, independent court system, traffickers will continue to manipulate the law in their favor. Measures must be taken to: Increase transparency in high-profile drug trials, introduce harsher penalties for corruption among judges and law enforcement officers Strengthen witness protection programs to encourage whistleblowers to come forward. Furthermore, investing in forensic capabilities would give law enforcement the tools they need to properly investigate drug cases.
Currently, Liberia’s lack of forensic laboratories and data-sharing mechanisms make it easy for traffickers to slip through the cracks.
Addressing the Root Causes of Drug Use
The government must also tackle Liberia’s growing addiction crisis by expanding drug rehabilitation centers Launching public awareness campaigns to educate youth on the dangers of narcotics, investing in job creation programs to provide alternative opportunities for at-risk youth
A Nation at a Crossroads
Liberia stands at a critical moment in its fight against drug trafficking. For now, many are concerned that the country’s handling of recent cases—particularly the disastrous $100 million cocaine trial—has already tarnished its international reputation. Unless serious reforms are implemented, Liberia risks becoming permanently entrenched in the global narcotics trade, with devastating consequences for its people. With time running out, many Liberians and international stakeholders are hoping for action to start now.
COMING WEDNESDAY: How the Liberia-Sierra Leone Trafficking Operations is Impacting the Rest of the Continent
