Ship Flying Liberian Flag Arrested Near Monrovia with Cocaine

A ship flying the Liberian flag has been arrested in international waters with 90 barrels of cocaine and other hard drugs and escorted to the Freeport of Monrovia by a French naval gunboat.

The French Ambassador to Liberia Jacques Girad told reporters at the Freeport of Monrovia Friday that the ship was escorted to the Freeport of Monrovia Thursday night.

He said the ship, “Blue Atlantic” which had a crew of nine Ghanaians and other African nationals, was headed for either the port of Lagos in Nigeria or Ghana, when it was apprehended about 550 nautical miles south of Liberian waters and arrested.

On Friday, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Liberian government officials including Justice Minister Counselor Philip Banks and National Security Minister Anthony Kromah and the French government to turn over the Cocaine worth millions of United States dollars to the Liberian government.

According to Justice Minister Banks, the cocaine will be disposed of following consultation with environmentalists.

Already Liberian police and officers of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) have taken custody of the “Blue Lake”.

Many international shipping companies use the Liberia flag as a flag of convenience, making Liberia one of the largest shipping nations in the world.

Source African Press Agency

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