He Armed a War. He Died in Peace. The Timber Baron Who Helped Turn Liberia Into an Arsenal
Guus Kouwenhoven leaving a Cape Town courthouse. Published by NOS in connection with the South African extradition proceedings.
The courts found him guilty. The system let him grow old. Guus Kouwenhoven was sentenced to 19 years for illegal arms trafficking and complicity in war crimes, but he fought extradition from South Africa until death delivered the freedom prison never did. Survivors lived with the aftermath.
#WarCrimes | #Liberia
Africa’s Cocaine Shame
Duazon, Liberia: A joint security operation raided a stash house in Duazon, about 20 km east of Monrovia, and arrested two foreigners, a Colombian and a Spanish national, plus several Liberians. Police say the haul is the largest drug bust in Liberia’s history, with an estimated street value of over $370 million in cocaine. The operation followed a separate seizure at Roberts International Airport of about 237.6 kg of cocaine valued around $19.2 million that was falsely declared as other goods. Liberian police chief Gregory Coleman described it as the result of a long-running investigation into trafficking networks. Still, he did not name Leijdekkers or tie the operation to a specific foreign kingpin.
#CocaineCorridor | #NarcoticsTrafficking