Cocaine shipment bound for Europe seized at Liberia airport before Brussels Airlines flight

Liberian authorities have intercepted approximately 240 kilograms of cocaine at Monrovia’s Roberts International Airport in one of the country’s largest-ever drug seizures, highlighting the continued use of West African airports as transit points for narcotics destined for Europe.

The cocaine, valued at more than US$19 million (around €17 million), was discovered on 8 June among nearly 200 cargo boxes after airport personnel detected discrepancies in shipment documentation. According to Liberian media reports, the drugs were allegedly destined to be transported to Europe on a passenger flight operated by Brussels Airlines.

The seizure prompted a national address by Liberian President Joseph Boakai, who pledged to dismantle the criminal networks behind the trafficking operation and vowed that Liberia would not serve as a transit hub or operational base for international drug traffickers. Six airport employees have reportedly been arrested as part of the investigation.

While authorities have not formally identified the organisers of the shipment, local media reports suggest investigators are examining possible links to fugitive Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers, one of Europe’s most wanted criminals, who is believed to be operating from neighbouring Sierra Leone.

The case has attracted international attention, with reports indicating that intelligence and law-enforcement agencies from Belgium, the United States, Denmark and the United Kingdom are assisting the investigation. The seizure also comes amid growing concerns about West Africa’s role as a key transit corridor for cocaine shipments moving from Latin America to European markets.

For the aviation sector, the incident underscores the importance of cargo screening and airport security controls at African gateways serving Europe. The drugs were reportedly detected before loading onto the aircraft, preventing a major narcotics shipment from entering the European air transport network.