GoL Moves Toward 28-Container Inspection Capacity with New Smart DI Facility
Winifred H. Sackor
MONROVIA, LIBERIA: Liberia’s cargo management system is undergoing what authorities describe as a structural transformation, as the Liberia Revenue Authority advances construction of a modern Destination Inspection (DI) Facility at the Freeport of Monrovia designed to expand daily inspection capacity to at least twenty-eight 40-foot containers simultaneously.
The development represents a substantial upgrade from the current inspection arrangement, which allows for the processing of only two 40-foot containers per day, often resulting in congestion, extended clearance timelines, and operational inefficiencies within the port ecosystem.
During a high-level site visit on Monday, February 23, 2026, members of the LRA Governing Board, accompanied by Commissioner General James Dorbor Jallah, assessed the pace of construction and reviewed technical specifications of the facility, which is projected for completion by August 2026.
Board Chairman David K. Vinton characterized the project as a decisive modernization step, stating, “What we have seen today represents meaningful and measurable progress for our country. This facility will deliver real benefits to the Liberian people and the business community.”
According to project briefings, the DI complex has been engineered to function as a fully integrated inspection and trade facilitation hub rather than a standalone scanning station. Once operational, it will incorporate both intrusive and non-intrusive scanning systems, expanded warehousing infrastructure capable of accommodating more than fifty 40-foot containers, and a structured deconsolidation platform tailored to support small and medium-sized Liberian enterprises.
The project is being implemented by MTS Inspection Services Ltd, the Special Purpose Vehicle under the Destination Inspection Agreement between Medtech Scientific Dubai and the Government of Liberia. Construction works are being executed by Family Pol Business (FPB) under the supervision of Design Engineer Partner (Dubai), in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Works.
Unlike the previously limited DI arrangement formerly operated by Bureau Veritas Liberia, the new facility has been conceptualized to centralize inspection, documentation, and financial processing within a single coordinated space. Authorities emphasized that this consolidation will reduce administrative fragmentation and enhance transparency in customs operations.
The structure is expected to host Customs operations, MTS Inspection Services, APM Terminals, commercial banks, and the Central Bank of Liberia, thereby creating an integrated institutional environment intended to accelerate cargo clearance and reduce duplication.
Board Member Yvonne Bright Dennis underscored the importance of operational discipline alongside physical infrastructure, noting, “The design is modern and impressive. Ensuring full technology integration and effective administrative processes will be key to making this investment work optimally.”
Commissioner General Jallah emphasized that modernization must extend beyond physical assets, stating, “A modern inspection environment strengthens accuracy, integrity, and accountability in customs operations. Once fully integrated and supported by trained personnel, this facility will protect revenue while facilitating legitimate trade.”
He further clarified that while coordination with APM Terminals is necessary for infrastructure alignment within the port, statutory regulatory oversight and customs authority remain fully vested in the LRA, operating in collaboration with the National Port Authority.
By increasing throughput from two to twenty-eight containers at once, authorities believe the DI facility will minimize costly demurrage charges borne by importers, accelerate legitimate trade flows, and strengthen Liberia’s competitiveness within the regional maritime trade network.
