By: Barclay Karnley Jr
MONROVIA: The Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Col. Gregory Coleman, has admitted before Senate Plenary that Liberia is becomes a transshipment route for illegal drugs in the West African region.
Speaking during a Senate public hearing on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, held in the Senate Chamber, the LNP Inspector General, however, indicated that investigation has not established whether there are laboratories in Liberia that are producing illegal substance.
“So, from all indications, it is more on a transshipment level because, we do not have a market here for this kind of product. As far as transshipment is concerned, based on what we know at this point in time, transshipment, yes. Production, we're still looking into it,” the LNP Chief emphasized.
Col. Coleman further stated that investigation has also established that illegal substances are imported. He, did not, however, disclose the sources of the illegal substances. He also did not disclose the origins of the illicit drugs being imported for shipment out of Liberia.
“We've shared pieces of evidence for them to help us. We cannot do the chemical analysis to know exactly which lab or which country the drugs are being produced. We have other agencies that are assisting us that have that capability, that will be able to tell us that,” he averred.
In his statement to the Senate, Col. Coleman maintained that the ongoing cocaine investigation is being treated as a national security priority with implications that extend beyond Liberia's borders.
He stressed that the investigation concerns a ‘sophisticated transnational criminal enterprises which objective is not simply the movement of illicit narcotics, but the exploitation of institutions, transportation systems, financial networks, and governance structures. The LNP IG told Senators that investigations of such nature are fundamentally different from ordinary criminal cases.
“While arrests may occur at a point of interdiction, the broader objective is to identify, investigate, and dismantle the entire criminal network, from financiers and organizers to facilitators, corrupt state and non-state actors, and international collaborators.
Coleman indicated “achieving that objective requires a deliberate intelligence-driven and evidence-based process that protects the integrity of the investigation while ensuring that every action taken can definitely withstand judicial scrutiny,” IG Coleman added.
According to IG Coleman, since the seizure of the Cocaine at the Roberts International Airport, the Joint Security has pursued a coordinated investigation strategy involving evidence preservation, forensic examination, intelligence analysis, financial inquiries, interviews, and engagement with international law enforcement partners.
The Police Inspector General however maintained that certain aspects of the investigation necessarily remain confidential because of the premature disclosure and what it could do in compromising ongoing operation, jeopardize international cooperation, and alert persons of investigative interest or prejudice the entire prosecution.
“Today, we are prepared to answer the concerns of this honorable body on the investigative action taken to date, the progress achieved, the challenges encountered, and the next operational step while remaining mindful of our legal obligation to protect sensitive investigative information and preserve the integrity of active criminal proceedings,” he maintained.
In his statement, the Police IG noted that the Joint Security is committed to conducting the investigation professionally, independently, transparently, where appropriate, and without fear or favor. He added that their guiding principle remains clear: to follow the evidence wherever it leads, hold all culpable persons accountable under the law and dismantle every component of the criminal network responsible for the offense.
The Senate, as part of its oversight responsibility, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, conducted a joint security hearing in the ongoing investigation of the over US$19.2 million cocaine seizure at the Roberts International Airport in June of this year.
Members of the joint security taskforce include the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), National Security Agency (NSA), Ministry of National Defense (MOD), Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Executive Protection Services (EPS).
The Senate hearing stemmed from a communication written to the senate plenary by Bomi County Senator, Edwin Snowe, and Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Konneh, calling on that august body to cite the joint security taskforce to respond to inquiries on the delay of the cocaine investigation.
The Liberian senate is expected to come up with a definite position regarding the ongoing investigation in the over US$19million cocaine seizure at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) to ensure the credibility of the investigation and those involved are prosecuted in line with the law.
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