Helicopter gunships are patrolling Liberia’s borders on the lookout for illegal loggers and other smugglers.
The helicopters are attached to the UN peacekeeping force and they are backed by a United Nations mission in Liberia presence on the ground.
The UN banned Liberian timber exports last year, saying money gained from logging activities was being used to buy arms in contravention of a UN embargo.
Now there are calls for the sanctions to be lifted as nearly half of the government’s revenue comes from the logging sector. However, some say the ban should stay in place until the transitional government can put proper control mechanisms in place for the transparent and sustainable use of the country’s forest resources.
