U.S. DOJ Joins 370M Drug Probe

By Lincoln G. Peters

MONROVIA, Liberia, August 7, 2026 – Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sarah Beysolow Nyanti, has disclosed that personnel from the U.S. Department of Justice are in Liberia to assist with the ongoing investigation into the country’s estimated US$370 million narcotics case, following high-level diplomatic engagements between the two governments.

Speaking Thursday during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, Minister Nyanti said the deployment of U.S. investigators came after discussions with officials in the White House Situation Room and the U.S. National Security Council.

According to her, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as a member of Liberia’s National Security Council, has been working with international partners to strengthen the country’s law enforcement response to the drug trafficking investigation.

“At the request of the Inspector General of Police and with talking points provided by the Solicitor General, I was able to speak with advisers in the White House Situation Room and the U.S. National Security Council. Within 24 to 48 hours, we had U.S. Department of Justice personnel boots on the ground to help expand the scope of this investigation,” Nyanti said.

She also revealed that Liberia has engaged several international partners—including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Morocco, and Rwanda—to support efforts aimed at investigating, extraditing where appropriate, and prosecuting individuals connected to the massive drug trafficking case.

Despite the international assistance, Nyanti stressed that the investigation remains under the control of the Liberian government and that all suspects who violated Liberian laws will face justice in Liberian courts.

“This is a Liberia matter. Anyone who violated our laws will be prosecuted here on our soil under Liberian law. Our partners are here to support our investigation, not to take our citizens away,” she stated.

The Foreign Minister reaffirmed President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s commitment to combating illicit drug trafficking, saying the administration is pursuing a “focused, principled, and structured” campaign to prevent Liberia from becoming a narco-state.

She said President Boakai has instructed cabinet ministers and diplomatic officials to conduct government business with transparency and credibility rather than through “social media or propaganda.”

Addressing public speculation linking diplomatic cargo to drug trafficking, Nyanti sought to clarify the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ role under international law.

She explained that under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, diplomatic missions are entitled to duty-free diplomatic pouches and shipments, while the Ministry’s Chief of Protocol is responsible only for verifying diplomatic status.

“The request then goes to the Liberia Revenue Authority. We do not see, handle, or know the contents of diplomatic shipments,” she said.

Nyanti challenged anyone with credible evidence linking diplomatic cargo to illegal narcotics trafficking to present it to the Joint Security and the National Security Council.

“When you make accusations without evidence, you are not just targeting me. You are undermining our bilateral relations and the very partners who are helping us win this fight,” she added.

The government’s ongoing anti-drug campaign has intensified in recent weeks following the seizure of narcotics valued at approximately US$370 million and a series of arrests, dismissals, and investigations involving security personnel and other public officials.