The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has expressed grave concern over the growing importation of illicit drugs into Liberia, urging the government and law enforcement agencies to shift their focus from arresting small-time users to prosecuting major importers.
INCHR Chairman Cllr. T. Dempster Brown commended Liberians for their stance against drug abuse but stressed that the fight must be intensified at the highest levels. He called drugs a “human rights issue” that threatens the health and future of the nation, particularly its youth.
“Our investigation revealed that from 2005 to 2018, the international community accused Liberia of being a transit point for drugs,” Brown said, recalling a 2007 incident when a ship carrying narcotics was seized at the Freeport of Monrovia. “The crew members were arrested, but legal representation issues and wrongful indictments caused the government to lose the case.”
The commission cited several recent cases, including a 2024 incident at the Roberts International Airport where individuals arriving with drugs were detained, but the alleged importers evaded arrest. A similar trend was reported at the Bo-Waterside border with Sierra Leone, where arrests of transporters are frequent, but importers remain untouched.
Brown also raised alarm over the emergence of methcathinone — locally known as “CAT” — in Liberia, describing it as a dangerous new drug now being trafficked into the country.
The INCHR reported that drugs are being imported from Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Guinea, yet arrests primarily target consumers rather than traffickers. The commission warned that the unchecked activities of importers are fueling the proliferation of narcotics nationwide.
Recommendations
The commission issued several recommendations, including:
Directing the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) to prioritize the arrest and prosecution of drug importers.
Mandating the seizure and sale of all drug-laden ships, airplanes, and vehicles, with proceeds deposited into government accounts.
Increasing salaries and incentives for LDEA officers to ensure only legitimate, full-time employees serve in security roles.
Urging President Joseph Boakai to collaborate with leaders of Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, and Guinea on a Mano River Union regional strategy against drug trafficking.
Brown praised the LDEA’s ongoing efforts despite low pay and reliance on volunteers but emphasized that without stronger enforcement against importers, “they will go free and continue to flood our country with drugs.”
