U.S. Department of Homeland Security Imposes Restrictions on Vessels from Liberia

WASHINGTON, DC – The United States Department of Homeland Security has been granted authority under United States Code 552(a), 46 U.S.C. 70110 and as delegated, section 70110(a) to order the U.S. Coast Guard to impose conditions of entry on vessels arriving in the U.S. from Liberia – especially the Freeport of Monrovia.

The U.S. Coast Guard determined that the Government of Liberia has failed to maintain effective anti-terrorism measures considering the lack of security measures and other sanctions imposed on several Lebanese businesses in this small West African country.

In early 2018, Globe Afrique published an article “U.S. Sanctions Businesses in Liberia, Sierra Leone with links to terrorism” where the names of several businesses operating in Monrovia were sanctioned by the U.S. government for having financial ties to terrorist organizations. The Dolphin Trading Company, LTD, the Golden Fish Liberia, LTD., and Sky Trade Company located in Logan Town, opposite Rice Store remain on the sanctioned list.

It appears the escalated concern to impose restrictions on vessels from Liberia comes from Liberia’s serving as a port of entry for ships coming from the Republic of Iraq – a known terrorist haven, and the missing currencies and other financial misgivings taking form in Liberia.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, over the past year, the Government of Liberia did not maintain effective anti-terrorism measures in their ports and is therefore subject to restrictions of entry into U.S. waters.

Source: Globe Afrique