Liberian authorities on Tuesday confirmed that they had seized some $100 million worth of cocaine, with help from the United States’ international narcotics agency.
Liberian Justice Minister Musa Dean informed reporters the national Drug Enforcement Agency, with help from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, had made the seizure Saturday in Topoe village, a western suburb of the capital Monrovia.
The operation led ‘to the seizure of $100 million worth of pure cocaine’, he said.
He also added that a Guinea-Bissau national and a Lebanese suspect were arrested.
Read Also: Falz Tackles NDLEA Over Burning Of Cocaine Worth ₦194bn
The drug agency could not confirm reports shared on social media that the drug had been stored in frozen fish containers. It said the investigation was ongoing.
Drug enforcement agency chief Marcus Zehyoue said “a full-scale investigation” was underway along with a search for accomplices who escaped capture.
‘The success of this operation is the direct result of excellent communication between law enforcement agencies around the world, including Brazil, the United States, and Liberia, among others.’ it added.
The US embassy in Liberia congratulated the Liberian authorities on the drug haul, saying in a statement that it was the result of swift joint action.
In a related development, popular Nigerian rapper and songwriter, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz has reacted to yesterday’s burning of 194 billion Naira worth of cocaine by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that last week, the agency reported that a large scale drug bust carried out in a warehouse located at Ikorodu, Lagos State.
During the operation, 197 billion naira worth of cocaine, which weighed 1.8tonnes was seized, and the suspected drug barons were also arrested.
In a video shared via the agency’s Twitter page on Tuesday, NDLEA showed the seized drugs being set ablaze.
‘VIDEO: NDLEA sets ablaze 1.8 tons of cocaine recovered from a warehouse in Ikorodu area of Lagos today, Tuesday 27th September 2022,’ the caption read.
Reacting to the reports which went viral on Tuesday, lawyer turned rapper, Falz, faulted the agency for burning potential evidence before culprits are arraigned before a court of law.
He asked, ‘This administration must really think that we are daft sha!! What is this lamba (lie) that the NDLEA is giving with this cocaine seizure saga? Dem dey burn evidence?’
In a release shared by the agency on Tuesday, it was stated that an order of the Federal High Court in Lagos was obtained for the public destruction of the illegal drugs.
