Monrovia, Liberia- In a major blow to illegal wildlife trafficking networks operating in the region, the EU-supported National Wildlife Crime Taskforce (WCTF) has confiscated 735.5 kg of illegal pangolin scales and apprehended two suspects, currently held at Monrovia Central Prison pending further court deliberations.
An Intelligence-Driven Strike and Inter-Agency Success
The successful operation was made possible through a seamless collaboration with the Wildlife Justice Commission (WJC). The WJC provided actionable, high-level intelligence tracking the illicit cargo, allowing Liberian operatives to intercept the suspects before the contraband could be smuggled out of the country.
“Wildlife crime is an organized crime, and defeating it requires an organized response,” stated Mr Edward Y.N.W. Appleton, Chief of Forest Law Enforcement at the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and Coordinator of the WCTF. “With the precise intelligence provided by our international partners at the Wildlife Justice Commission, our taskforce was able to act swiftly, decisively, and safely.”
The execution of the bust highlights the growing strength of Liberia’s inter-agency law enforcement strategies. The WCTF works in close coordination with other law enforcement and border authorities to shut down trafficking corridors.
The two suspects were formally charged by the Ministry of Justice.
If convicted, they face hefty fines and significant prison sentences.
FDA officials emphasized that this latest seizure sends a clear, uncompromising message to domestic and international poaching and smuggling syndicates: Liberia will not be used as a safe haven or a transit hub for the exploitation of endangered species.
Investigation into the broader network behind the seized shipment remains active as police look to determine if the local suspects are linked to larger supply chains connecting West Africa to illegal markets in Asia.
Pangolins, often described as the world’s most trafficked mammals, are heavily poached for their scales, which are deeply sought after in traditional medicine markets abroad despite having no proven medical value. All three species of pangolins occurring in Liberia are strictly protected under both Liberian national law and international conventions.
About the WCTF
The National Wildlife Crime Taskforce has been in existence since 2019, and in particular in 2024 and 2025, with the support from the EU-funded PROBIO – Protecting biodiversity through law enforcement and community-led initiatives” project, has achieved major success with close to 100 convictions for wildlife and forest crime for the past 2 years. Alongside other illegal trafficking, such as drug and weapon smuggling, illegal wildlife trade has become one of the most destructive and biggest smuggling crimes in the world.
