Monrovia, Liberia – August 6, 2025 — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has announced a sweeping National Anti-Drug Action Plan aimed at tackling Liberia’s growing drug crisis, which he described as “an attack on our future.”
The announcement followed the submission of a detailed Progress Report by the Multisectoral Steering Committee on Drugs and Substance Abuse, which has been tasked with coordinating efforts to combat drug trafficking and addiction in the country.
In a Special Presidential Statement delivered from the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, President Boakai reaffirmed his government’s firm resolve to combat drug abuse, safeguard Liberia’s youth, and restore community safety.
“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 warned.
President Boakai praised the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for its persistent efforts and also recognized the contributions of civil society groups and community organizations in raising awareness and mobilizing action.
Key Components of the National Anti-Drug Action Plan
The President outlined a robust multi-pronged strategy, to be enforced immediately and in accordance with the law, including:
- Seizure of properties tied to drug activity, with legal action against landlords and enablers.
- Performance mandates for LDEA regional commanders, with a six-month results timeline.
- National Whistleblower Program, offering cash rewards and protection for informants.
- Fast-tracking of drug-related cases in courts with mandatory sentencing.
- Expansion of rehabilitation centers and reintegration programs.
- Investment in border surveillance, scanners, canine units, and other security equipment.
- Introduction of an anti-drug curriculum in schools and random testing in high-risk areas.
- Reinforcement of the National Drug Emergency, authorizing raids and lockdowns.
- Freezing of assets of suspected traffickers in cooperation with financial institutions.
- Increased national budget allocations for enforcement, education, and legal reform.
President Boakai emphasized that the enforcement will be impartial and uncompromising:
“No status, no title, no uniform, and no connection will protect anyone involved in drugs.”
Despite fiscal limitations, the President directed Liberia’s financial authorities to immediately prioritize funding for LDEA operations, rehabilitation centers, surveillance technologies, educational campaigns, and judicial reinforcements.
“Liberia will fund its own fight first,” he said, while also calling on international partners and donors to support the national campaign.
A Call to Unity and Responsibility
In a passionate closing appeal, President Boakai urged all sectors of Liberian society to rally behind the anti-drug effort:
“Together, we will not just fight, we will win. Liberia will not lose another generation to drugs — not on my watch.”
The President’s declaration signals a significant escalation in the fight against drugs in Liberia, reflecting a national consensus that bold and coordinated action is urgently needed to protect the country’s future.
