LNP Inspector General Denies BBC Report on US$370 Million Cocaine Seizure

By: Anthony Dahn

MONROVIA, Liberia – The Inspector General of the Liberia National Police (LNP), Gregory Coleman, has denied key claims contained in a BBC report alleging that Liberian authorities seized cocaine valued at more than US$370 million in what was described as the country’s largest-ever drug bust.

The BBC reported that the suspected cocaine was discovered during a raid on a storage facility in Duazon, Margibi County, and quoted Coleman as saying forensic tests had confirmed the substance was cocaine with an estimated street value exceeding US$370 million.

However, when The Closing Argument visited the LNP Headquarters on Wednesday to verify the report, officials in the Police Press Department said the Inspector General had rejected the publication as inaccurate.

According to the Press Department, Coleman explained that he had held an off-the-record conversation with a BBC journalist and that both parties had agreed the discussion would not be published. He further stated that the figures attributed to him in the report, including the estimated value of the drugs, were inaccurate and did not reflect official police information.

The Inspector General also clarified that he is not the designated government official to publicly address the ongoing investigation. He said the responsibility for communicating on the matter rests with Liberia’s Minister of Justice, who serves as Chairman of the National Security Council.

The alleged drug seizure, which has attracted widespread national and international attention, remains under investigation. Authorities have not yet officially announced the weight, value, or origin of the suspected narcotics through the Ministry of Justice.

The Closing Argument will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as official information becomes available.