Liberia functions as a source and destination country for human trafficking, with a significant number of victims being exploited within its borders. Forced labour and sex trafficking are widespread, with victims often subjected to domestic servitude, forced begging and labour in industries such as street vending, mining, and rubber plantations. While some trafficking activities involve organized agents, the overall network appears to be more opportunistic than coordinated. Economic hardship and the lack of birth registrations contribute to the vulnerability of potential victims. Liberia also serves as a transit hub for human trafficking, mainly owing to the increase in ungoverned spaces and weak detection capabilities at entry points. Instances of trafficking involving fraudulent job recruitment schemes and forced marriages have been reported, but few cases result in persecution. Human smuggling in Liberia is characterized as low-level, low-profit, and relatively non-violent thanks to the country’s membership in the Economic Community of West African States, which allows for freedom of movement across borders. However, Liberia’s permeable and poorly guarded borders, combined with relaxed formal checks at well-manned border posts, enable smuggling activities. Many Liberians trying to cross into Niger end up stranded in the Sahara Desert, and, the arrival of Ivorian refugees has increased exposure to human smuggling. Although not all smuggling activities are carried out by criminal groups, it is believed that they have contributed to the growth and formation of criminal networks. Smuggling routes established during the civil war era remain active, mostly for small-scale commodities but potentially for transporting people as well. Extortion and protection racketeering are pervasive in many sectors of Liberia and are not only carried out by criminal networks but also by private-sector actors, such as banks. TRADE Firearm and ammunition smuggling in Liberia is considered moderate, facilitated by the country’s porous borders with Guinea, Sierra Leone, and the Ivory Coast. Smuggling rings, including those operating through the Freeport of Monrovia and receiving shipments from the US, have been identified. Specific communities act as centralized distribution points for illegal artisanal weapons, while the influx of refugees from neighbouring conflict-affected states contributes to the trafficking of small and light weapons. The increase in crimes such as armed robbery, rape, and murder can be attributed to the country’s deteriorating economy, characterized by high unemployment and poverty rates. Consequently, individuals seek self-protection, which drives the expansion of the illegal firearm market. Counterfeit goods trading has emerged as a significant and growing issue as a result of Liberia’s weak regulatory and enforcement infrastructure. It is estimated that more than half of the goods imported into Liberia are counterfeits, including items such as food, cosmetics, alcohol, and pharmaceuticals. The trade of counterfeit goods is common within the domestic market and through illicit border trafficking. Particularly worrisome is the smuggling of counterfeit medicines, primarily from Guinea-Conakry, where Fulani merchants play an influential role in the trafficking. Additionally, the illegal distribution of copyrighted materials contributes to the problem. Corruption adds to the delay in efforts to combat counterfeits, as long queues and inadequate customs and police presence at the borders aid the smuggling of goods. Illicit trade in excise goods remains a concern in Liberia. The lack of capacity and political will within the Liberian government, which is focused on national reconstruction following the civil war, as well as dealing with the aftermath of the Ebola virus and the pandemic, and the shortcomings in the operations of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) have driven many people to engage in the illicit trade in excise goods as a means of survival. ENVIRONMENT Deforestation poses a critical issue in Liberia, as the country faces one of the highest deforestation rates worldwide. Illegal logging and timber smuggling have become a pervasive industry in Liberia, involving government officials and various entities. The timber trafficking ‘syndicate’ encompasses loggers, ministry officials, customs officials, and shipping companies. There are instances where authorities have awarded illegal timber export permits, enabling the sale of teak logs without facing consequences. Predatory international logging and agricultural firms, coupled with weak domestic legal protections, present huge threats to the remaining forests. Liberia also grapples with challenges related to the illegal wildlife trade. The country serves as a source and transit point for this illicit activity, with Monrovia acting as a leading trading hub. Widespread hunting of bushmeat, including critically endangered animals, persists throughout the country, driving many species to the brink of extinction. Smuggling routes for pangolins and other wildlife are mostly concentrated in the southeastern region. The smuggling operations benefit from individuals exploiting porous borders and easily bribed border officials. Despite ©2023 OCINDEX.NET/COUNTRY/LIBERIA PAGE 4 OF 7 GLOBAL ORGANIZED CRIME INDEX attempts to ban the sale of bushmeat, the trade continues. The pangolin trafficking network in Liberia involves hunters, middlemen, brokers, and traffickers, with Asia serving as a main destination for pangolins. Liberia also has to deal with illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, posing threats to shark and ray populations. Nonrenewable resource crimes, particularly the smuggling of gold and diamonds, persist in Liberia because of inadequate government regulation and widespread poverty. Most of the mining activities in the country are artisanal and often involve ex-combatants in remote areas. Illicit gold mining is prevalent in River Gee province, while Gbarpolu County is a hotspot for illegal diamond mining. Gold smuggling to Guinea is common, driven by higher prices in the neighbouring country. The illegal diamond trade is dominated by Lebanese families with connections to Belgium and the UAE. Smuggling of gold and diamonds occurs across Liberia’s borders, with unchecked flows of foot and vehicle transport. Government oversight in the gold and diamond sectors is weak, marked by nepotism and political indifference. The rise in illicit mining poses risks on account of illegitimate political interference and a lack of enforcement of mining laws. DRUGS Liberia acts as a transit hub for heroin trafficking from Latin American and Asian countries to European markets. While the domestic heroin market in Liberia is limited, its ports and territory provide favourable conditions for drug smugglers. Notably, the heroin trade intersects with the mining industry, where some mineworkers are encouraged to use heroin to enhance productivity and work longer hours. On the other hand, the cocaine trade in Liberia has a marked and rising impact on regional drug consumption patterns. Liberia serves as a transit country for cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe, with criminal networks capitalizing on artisanal landing sites along the coastline. Limited security in these areas opens doors for drug smuggling and the trafficking of other contraband. Concerns have been raised regarding the handling of drug seizures, highlighting mismanagement and mishandling of evidence. Liberia has also emerged as a prominent producer and consumer of cannabis, with consumption on the rise since the country’s civil conflict. Most of the cannabis consumed in Liberia is locally produced, with Bong and Nimba counties identified as major cultivation areas. The availability of marijuana is widespread, and local cultivation is not widely seen as a huge concern among the public. However, there is an influx of marijuana being smuggled into Liberia from Ghana, Sierra Leone, and even the US. Larger cannabis operations are likely connected to established gangs or trafficking networks. The trade between Liberia and Sierra Leone is particularly robust, while routes extending to Guinea and the Sahel region also play an important role. The use of synthetic drugs, particularly the opioid Tramadol, has been on the rise in Liberia. Alongside Tramadol, non-prescription drugs such as Valium and Diazepam have also been reported. The unregulated pharmaceutical sector allows easy access to these drugs without prescriptions or restrictions. Alarms have been raised about the increasing drug use among Liberia’s youth, with Tramadol being mainly consumed by students. The availability of Tramadol in pharmacies with fewer restrictions contributes to its popularity. Authorities have also noted a rise in the prevalence of amphetamine-type stimulants and intravenous drug use in recent years. CYBER-DEPENDENT CRIMES Cyber-dependent crimes are a growing issue in Liberia, especially as the country recovers from the impact of civil war, the Ebola virus, and the pandemic. The absence of a legal and regulatory framework hampers the collection of comprehensive information on cyber-dependent offenses and convictions. Nevertheless, Liberia experiences a range of cybercrimes, including ransomware, DDoS attacks, botnets and social engineering. Online businesses in the country are particularly susceptible, facing persistent attacks on their websites and fraudulent transactions. The lack of awareness about cybercrime compounds Liberia’s vulnerability in the online realm. FINANCIAL CRIMES Financial crimes, including corruption, embezzlement, and misuse of funds, are deeply entrenched in Liberia, especially among public officials holding positions of power. Corruption is prevalent as a result of a prevailing culture of impunity and lack of accountability, resulting in financial fraud within the government and judiciary. Despite frequent allegations against senior government officials, successful convictions are rare, often hampered by suspicious circumstances such as the disappearance or death of defendants or their transfer to new positions without proper investigations. The hawala system, an informal funds transfer system, has become unregulated, enabling criminal networks associated with the Sahel region to move substantial sums of money outside the official banking sector, and fueling the rise of fraudulent activities. https://cdn.fbsbx.com/v/t59.2708-21/424693510_879219997311713_3917984117483651518_n.pdf/ocindex_profile_liberia_2023.pdf?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=2b0e22&_nc_ohc=ODeqFtArmR0AX-QQJcE&_nc_ht=cdn.fbsbx.com&oh=03_AdQbxmDZowyLs8-CYk-7Z70tkxRGiHc_DJPlAl3YkWCYKA&oe=65BD345D&dl=1
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