– Womenvoices Publishers vows to name and shame female drug peddlers
By Womenvoices Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia — Liberians are taking bold steps to confront the country’s spiraling drug epidemic, with grassroots movements intensifying and civil society demanding decisive government action. But a startling new development has added urgency—and controversy—to the national conversation: 90% of the recently arrested drug peddlers are women, according to local enforcement reports.
This revelation has sparked fierce debate and soul-searching across communities, as the face of drug trafficking in Liberia shifts from the shadows into the spotlight. The arrests, made over the past month in coordinated citizen-police operations, have stunned many who viewed women primarily as victims of the crisis—not perpetrators.
WomenVoices Newspaper Takes a Stand
In response, WomenVoices Newspaper—Liberia’s leading publication advocating for women and children—has announced a bold editorial campaign: a special edition naming and shamingthe women arrested for drug peddling. The move, while controversial, is intended to jolt public awareness and underscore the gravity of the situation.
“We cannot protect women who destroy other women’s children,” said Womenoices Publisher, Helen Nah Sammie. “Advocacy must be rooted in accountability. If we want to save our daughters and sons, we must confront the uncomfortable truth—even when it wears a familiar face.”
Citizen Action Escalates
Across Liberia, communities are no longer waiting for government intervention. Vigilante-style patrols, neighborhood watch groups, and youth coalitions have sprung up to identify and report suspected dealers. In some counties, citizens have directly apprehended traffickers and handed them over to authorities.
A Nation in Crisis
With an estimated 1 million Liberians—mostly youth—struggling with drug addiction, the crisis has reached a tipping point. The proliferation of synthetic drugs like kush and tramadol has devastated families, fueled crime, and eroded public trust in institutions.
Women March for Reform
Earlier this month, a coalition of women staged a powerful march through Monrovia, demanding that President Joseph Boakai fulfill his 2023 campaign promise to tackle the drug epidemic. Despite placing the issue at the center of his electoral platform, critics say the administration has offered little more than symbolic gestures.
Lip Service or Leadership?
“The president spoke of change, but we see no change,” said marcher and activist Hawa Johnson. “Our children are dying. Our sisters are selling poison. And our leaders are silent.”
As the Boakai administration faces mounting pressure, the question remains: will it rise to meet the moment, or continue to watch from the sidelines as Liberia’s future hangs in the balance?
Meanwhile, in a bold move to combat the scourge of drug abuse, residents of Glenyluu Community in Ganta City, Nimba County, arrested a notorious drug peddler on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The suspect, Ms. Lisa Dennis, 45, was apprehended with 1kg of compressed marijuana valued at $100 (L$19,300), following a coordinated operation between community members and the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA).
Public Frustration Fuels Action
The Glenyluu community’s swift action reflects mounting frustration over the government’s perceived inability to curb the proliferation of harmful drugs. Despite repeated arrests, individuals like Dennis continue to operate, raising questions about enforcement gaps and judicial follow-through. On Monday, August 18, a group of residents and businesswomen gathered at the LDEA office in Ganta, demanding Dennis be prosecuted without delay.
A temporary logistical setback—lack of stationery and a computer—was resolved thanks to the intervention of local NGO leaders Daniel Nyangboe and Daniel Rich, who provided the necessary materials to complete the charge sheet. Dennis was charged under Liberia’s amended drug law (Sections 14.84 and 14.89), having admitted ownership of the confiscated substances.
Mothers at the Crossroads
While Liberians are on a daily basis fighting against the sale and consumption of deadly substances, a painful irony has emerged: our mothers—those who should be the fiercest protectors of their children—are increasingly implicated in the very trade that is slowly killing them. This tragic reality has shaken communities to their core, forcing a reckoning with the social and economic pressures that drive such choices. The fight against these deadly substances continues, but the emotional toll is deepening.
Women Leading the Charge
Madam Vickey Cooper, lead campaigner for the “Say No to Drugs” initiative in Ganta, pledged to see the case through to its legal conclusion. “We can no longer depend solely on the government,” she declared. “We will work with the Police and LDEA, utilizing our security network to apprehend other substance peddlers targeting our children.”
Her words echo the sentiments of thousands of Liberians—predominantly women—who marched through Monrovia on August 7, dressed in black and demanding stronger government intervention. Their placards bore bold messages: “Drugs Are Killing Our Future”, “Protect Our Youth”, and “Justice for Victims of Addiction.”
Youth Mobilization and National Response
In Sanniquellie, the Progressive Youth of Nimba (PYN) launched a radio talk show titled “Say No to Drugs and Save Your Life”, urging schools to implement counseling programs and encouraging parents to engage in open dialogue with their children. PYN President Roland Dokie emphasized that “this fight must begin at home and extend to every school.”
Meanwhile, calls for more rehabilitation centers and stricter penalties for traffickers are growing louder. President Joseph Boakai’s administration has declared drug abuse a national public health emergency and unveiled a comprehensive Anti-Drug Action Plan. The strategy integrates law enforcement, education, public health, and legal reform, aiming to stem the tide of addiction that affects nearly one million Liberians.
A Nation at a Crossroads
The citizen-driven arrests and protests signal a pivotal moment in Liberia’s fight against drugs. While the government has taken steps to address the crisis, the overwhelming public response—especially from women—suggests that more must be done. Communities are no longer waiting for top-down solutions; they are mobilizing, organizing, and demanding accountability.
The arrest of Lisa Dennis is not just a local victory—it’s a symbol of a nationwide awakening. Liberia’s youth, its future, hangs in the balance. And the people have made it clear: the war on drugs is no longer just a government mandate—it’s a citizen crusade.
