Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has announced a sweeping national response to Liberia’s escalating drug crisis, labeling the proliferation of narcotics as “an attack on our future.” The declaration comes after the President received a progress report from the Multisectoral Steering Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse, prompting an aggressive, multi-faceted National Anti-Drug Action Plan aimed at curbing substance abuse and trafficking.
In an Executive Mansion release dated August 6, 2025, President Boakai vowed to protect Liberia’s youth and communities from the devastating effects of drug abuse. “We cannot allow the spread of illicit drugs to turn our children into victims, our communities into ghettos, and our neighborhoods into shelters for criminal elements,” he declared. The President underscored the urgency of the crisis, warning that failure to act decisively would jeopardize the nation’s future.
The newly unveiled plan includes stringent measures such as the seizure of properties linked to drug activities, with landlords and accomplices facing prosecution. Regional commanders of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) will now operate under a strict performance mandate, with a six-month deadline to deliver measurable results. To encourage public involvement, a National Whistleblower Program will offer cash rewards and protection for informants who report drug-related crimes.
Judicial reforms will fast-track drug cases through the courts, ensuring mandatory sentencing for offenders. At the same time, the government will expand rehabilitation centers and reintegration programs to support recovering addicts. Enhanced border surveillance, including scanners and canine units, will be deployed to intercept drug trafficking, while schools will introduce an anti-drug curriculum. Random drug testing will also be conducted in high-risk areas.
President Boakai emphasized that the campaign will be uncompromising, stating, “No status, no title, no uniform, and no connection will protect anyone involved in drugs.” The government will also freeze assets of suspected traffickers in collaboration with financial institutions and reinforce emergency measures allowing raids and lockdowns in drug hotspots.
Despite financial challenges, President Boakai has directed increased budgetary allocations for drug enforcement, rehabilitation centers, border security, and nationwide public education campaigns. “Liberia will fund its own fight first,” he asserted, while calling on international partners to support the initiative.
The President commended the LDEA and civil society groups for their efforts in combating the crisis and urged all Liberians to join the fight. “Together, we will not just fight, we will win,” he said. “Liberia will not lose another generation to drugs—not on my watch.”
