Liberia: LNP Arrests 67 Foreign Nationals in Major Cybercrime, Counterfeit Probe

What the report says

Liberia’s police say they have arrested more than 67 foreign nationals, including a substantial number of Chinese citizens, in a coordinated operation tied to suspected cybercrime and counterfeit currency activity. The arrests followed raids on several locations in and around Monrovia, including communities identified as Rehab, SKD and the Baptist Seminary area, according to Inspector General Gregory Coleman, who briefed reporters in Monrovia on October 8, 2026.

Authorities said the search-and-seizure actions were based on surveillance carried out over several months by a joint national security team. Police reported recovering more than 200 mobile phones, over 50 computers, more than US$2,000 in cash and over US$1.3 million in suspected counterfeit U.S. currency. Coleman said investigators are now reviewing the devices and other evidence to determine whether the case involves cybercrime, forgery, counterfeiting, economic sabotage or related offenses.

The police chief emphasized that the arrests do not amount to convictions and that the suspects remain presumed innocent while the inquiry continues. He said the volume of electronic evidence makes the investigation complex and may require technical support from outside Liberia. Officials have asked for assistance from the Chinese government and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation, while Liberia’s National Security Agency is also involved.

The case matters because it points to possible organized, cross-border criminal activity operating through Liberia’s digital and physical infrastructure. More broadly, it reflects how West African law enforcement agencies are increasingly linking cybercrime probes with financial fraud and counterfeit currency investigations, though the precise scope of this case remains under review.