MONROVIA, Liberia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has defended its decision not to immediately disclose the identities of individuals linked to the recent seizure of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than US$19 million at Roberts International Airport (RIA), warning that premature disclosure could jeopardize an ongoing transnational criminal investigation.
In a statement issued Friday, the agency disclosed that the June 8 drug bust has been elevated by the National Security Council to a Joint National Security Investigation due to its scale, international dimensions, and suspected links to organized criminal networks.
The investigation is being coordinated by the LDEA and the Liberia National Police, with support from the National Security Agency, Executive Protection Service, Financial Intelligence Agency, Liberia Immigration Service, Customs authorities, airport security, the Ministry of Justice, and other security institutions.
According to the agency, the government views the case as more than a narcotics seizure, describing it as a significant national security threat with implications for border security, international aviation, financial integrity, public safety, and Liberia’s reputation within the international community.
The statement comes amid mounting public pressure and widespread social media calls for authorities to publish the names of individuals suspected of involvement in the cocaine shipment.
However, the LDEA said investigators must balance transparency with the need to protect operational and intelligence activities.
“Premature disclosure of the identities of persons of interest, suspects, cooperating witnesses, or individuals under active investigation could compromise intelligence-gathering efforts, interfere with international law enforcement cooperation, facilitate the destruction of evidence, and prejudice future prosecutions,” the agency stated.
The LDEA further revealed that it is working closely with international law enforcement partners and stressed that maintaining investigative confidentiality is critical to dismantling what it believes may be a broader transnational trafficking network.
Investigators have identified one key person of interest, Emmanuel Zeon, who allegedly transported the cocaine consignment to Roberts International Airport on June 5 for export via Brussels Airlines. Authorities say Zeon left the airport shortly after delivering the shipment and is currently being sought by law enforcement agencies.
The agency noted that several individuals and institutions involved in the shipment process—including shipping companies, airport personnel, security officers, and other stakeholders—are cooperating with investigators as authorities pursue multiple leads.
According to the LDEA, the Joint Security Team is focused on identifying not only those directly connected to the seized narcotics but also the financiers, facilitators, logistical coordinators, corrupt enablers, and both domestic and international actors who may have supported the operation.
Officials emphasized that the investigation seeks to dismantle the entire criminal enterprise behind the shipment and prevent Liberia’s transportation and security infrastructure from being exploited by organized crime networks.
The government also underscored the strategic importance of Roberts International Airport, describing it as a vital gateway for commerce, tourism, investment, and international travel. Authorities said the investigation aims to protect the integrity of Liberia’s aviation and security systems while reassuring international partners of the country’s commitment to combating transnational organized crime.
In a strong warning, the government pledged that no individual would be protected from scrutiny.
“No individual, regardless of position, status, influence, affiliation, or institutional connection, will be shielded from investigation or exempt from the full weight of the law,” the statement said, adding that arrests and prosecutions will proceed wherever sufficient evidence exists.
While reaffirming its commitment to transparency and accountability, the LDEA maintained that investigative considerations must take precedence while active operations continue.
The agency called on citizens to assist investigators by providing relevant information, emphasizing that public cooperation remains essential in combating transnational criminal organizations.
Authorities insist that the operation will not conclude with the seizure itself, vowing to identify, disrupt, dismantle, and prosecute every individual and network connected to the cocaine shipment, both within Liberia and beyond its borders.
