Liberia: Court Subpoenas Roberts International Airport Management Over US$19 Million Cocaine Bust

Monrovia – The investigation into Liberia’s record US$19 million cocaine seizure has entered a new phase, with the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County ordering the management of Roberts International Airport (RIA) to surrender key documents and surveillance footage linked to the case.

By Yawah Y. Jaivey 

The subpoena, issued by the court at the request of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), compels airport authorities to produce shipping records, waybills, and all relevant Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) footage associated with the movement and interception of the cocaine shipment discovered earlier this month.

The writ, signed under the authority of Resident Circuit Judge Victoria Worlobah Duncan, directs RIA management to appear before the court on Monday, June 22, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.

According to the court order, airport authorities must provide “shipping waybill, other documents if any, and all Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) video footages” related to the incident involving suspected narcotics discovered within cargo boxes at the airport facility.

The subpoena specifically seeks video footage and records covering June 5, 6, 7, and 8, 2026 — the period during which airport security officers identified suspicious cargo, conducted physical inspections, and eventually turned over six boxes containing cocaine to the LDEA.

Significantly, the court has also requested footage and records dating back to May 22, 2026, suggesting investigators are attempting to reconstruct the movement of the shipment and identify everyone who may have had contact with the cargo before its interception.

The latest court action comes amid growing public pressure on law enforcement authorities to disclose the identities of those behind the massive drug shipment, which investigators say contained approximately 237 kilograms of cocaine concealed in six export-bound boxes.

Sources familiar with the investigation say prosecutors are seeking to establish a comprehensive timeline of events, including how the shipment entered the airport’s cargo system, who processed the documentation, and which individuals may have facilitated its movement through security checkpoints.

The subpoena signals that investigators are increasingly relying on documentary and electronic evidence to determine whether the operation involved a broader network extending beyond those already detained.

Legal observers say CCTV footage could prove crucial in identifying persons who accessed the cargo facility, handled the shipment, or communicated with airport personnel during the days leading up to the seizure.

The court’s demand for shipping waybills and related records is also expected to help investigators verify the identities of consignors, agents, freight handlers, and any companies connected to the attempted export.

The subpoena was formally issued on June 12 and ordered the Acting Sheriff of Margibi County to serve airport management and ensure their appearance before the court.

The move underscores the intensifying nature of the investigation as authorities seek to gather evidence capable of supporting potential criminal prosecutions in what has become one of the largest narcotics cases in Liberia’s history.

While several individuals have reportedly been questioned in connection with the case, authorities have remained tight-lipped about the identities of the alleged masterminds, fueling public speculation that investigators may still be pursuing higher-level suspects.

For now, attention is turning to the evidence expected to emerge from airport records and surveillance systems as investigators attempt to answer the central question surrounding the US$19 million cocaine bust: who ultimately orchestrated the shipment and how far did the network extend?