The fight against narcotic substances and drug abuse in Liberia seems far from ending as it is becoming a major contributor to the destruction of the youthful population of Liberia thereby leading to the increase in criminal activities, mental health, and premature death among young people.
Consumption of drugs such as methamphetamine and cocaine can have significant and damaging short-term and long-term effects including psychotic behavior, seizures, or death due to overdose. Opioid drugs affect the part of the brain that controls breathing, and overdose can result in death according to health practitioners.
In August 2022, Liberian authorities arrested four foreigners suspected of trying to smuggle $100 million worth of cocaine into the country, the value of which is estimated to be one-fifth of the country’s national budget.
In May 2023, many Liberians were shocked when authorities revealed that they lost track of the four men who were tried and exonerated after the seizure of $ 100 million dollars worth of cocaine. The court caused a stir by finding not guilty a Liberian, a Bissau-Guinea, a Portuguese, and a Lebanese man who were all arrested in connection with said amount of drugs. The judgment by jurors shocked the public even more as the court ordered the return of $ 200,00 seized during the operation.
On September 10, 2023, it was reported that huge quantities of boxes in the form of drugs arrived at the Roberts International Airport. Immediately after the report about the arrival of suspicious boxes containing illegal substances, authorities of the Roberts International Airport with immediate effect, suspended Samuel Freeman, the Director of Security who was on duty when said boxes arrived.
Boxes containing suspicious contents arrested at Roberts International Airport were turned over to the Liberia Drugg Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for further examination. As Liberians eagerly awaited the outcome of the LDEA examination, rumors surfaced that the contents of the boxes were Moringa Zero tea leaves and not drugs as suspected by many Liberians. Something which created doubts in the minds of many Liberians leaving them with the conclusion that there is a coverup for drug importers in the country.
on September 12, 2023, the Ministry of Justice through the joint security sectors issued a release confirming that the contents of the suspicious boxes were methamphetamine. A substance which consumption has effects such as psychotic behavior, seizure, and subsequent death.
Liberia’s drug; Panel code sections 50.5 and 50.0 warrant drug importation a non-billable felonious offense punishable by a jail term of ten years and not exceeding twenty years.
The trigger-down effect is on peaceful and innocent citizens that suffer the most from unlawful acts being carried out by substance abusers including pocket picking arm robbery attacks amongst others.
The illegal possession and consumption of narcotic substances in Liberia remain a major contributor to the high level of mental health issues in the country as many young Liberians especially males are seen on street corners on a daily basis dozing off after consumption. The hopes of Liberians continue to languish in limbo as the laws put in place to curtail such a menace still lack implementation.
