Liberia’s President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has unveiled an aggressive strategy to tackle the country’s escalating drug crisis, vowing a “non-selective and relentless” crackdown ahead of a nationwide anti-drug march. The announcement follows a progress report from a government task force highlighting alarming rates of substance abuse, particularly among youth, and systemic challenges in curbing trafficking networks.
Citing a 2023 United Nations study revealing one in five Liberian youths uses narcotics—primarily the synthetic drug “kush,” often laced with fentanyl and methamphetamine—Boakai declared the crisis an “attack on our future.” Over 866 drug dens reportedly operate in the capital, Monrovia, with addiction rates threatening public health and security. The government has allocated $3.5 million for rehabilitation and prevention programs like “Kush Must Go,” though frontline providers claim funds have been slow to materialize. Only 163 individuals currently receive state-funded treatment, according to health officials.
The newly launched National Anti-Drug Action Plan mandates immediate measures: seizing properties tied to drug activities, prosecuting accomplices, fast-tracking court cases, and expanding border surveillance with scanners and canine units. A whistleblower program offering cash rewards and protections will target traffickers, while schools will implement anti-drug curricula and random testing. Regional drug enforcement commanders face six-month performance deadlines, and assets of suspected traffickers may be frozen.
Boakai emphasized that “no status, title, or connection” would shield offenders, signaling a focus on high-level enablers. The plan coincides with a mass march on August 7, organized under the theme “Say No to Drugs—Reclaim Liberia’s Future.” Thousands are expected to rally in Monrovia, converging at the Capitol Hill government complex to demand urgent action. Organizers called the event a “symbol of hope” to reverse the crisis’s toll on education, healthcare, and economic stability.
Controversy erupted separately as Liberia’s ambassador to Nigeria, John Ballout, accused Nigerian nationals of dominating drug trafficking into Liberia. Speaking at a regional ECOWAS meeting, Ballout stressed the need for bilateral cooperation, acknowledging Nigeria’s past peacekeeping role while urging joint efforts to stem narcotics flows. His remarks sparked debate but underscored regional dimensions of the epidemic.
With synthetic drugs proliferating and treatment capacity lagging, Liberia’s campaign faces steep hurdles. Yet the coordinated push—combining enforcement, education, and public mobilization—reflects growing recognition of the crisis’s scale. As communities brace for Thursday’s march, the government’s ability to translate pledges into progress will test its resolve to protect what Boakai termed “a generation at risk.”
