Monrovia – The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has confiscated a minibus at the Liberia-Sierra Leone border in Bo Waterside, Grand Cape Mount County, during a routine search. The bus, packed with a significant quantity of marijuana, was intercepted by LDEA agents, though the driver remains at large.

By Edwin G. Genoway, Jr.(231886458910) – edwin.genoway@frontpageafricaonline.com

Liberia is not a major producer of illicit narcotics; however, the use of marijuana is widespread. Other substances, such as heroin (primarily smoked) and cocaine (often snorted), are also common, with authorities reporting an increase in amphetamine-type stimulants and intravenous drugs.

The arrest of the minibus loaded with drugs has raised concerns about the increasing inflow of narcotics into Liberia through the Sierra Leone border, a known route for drug trafficking. The country’s drug epidemic has severely impacted the youth, many of whom have fallen victim to substance abuse, becoming part of a vulnerable population commonly referred to as “Zogos.”

Bo Waterside is one of several illicit drug entry points in Liberia. Marijuana is the most commonly used substance, although the consumption of heroin and crack cocaine is also on the rise, with a notable increase in heroin use.

According to the LDEA, the minibus, bearing license plate AG 1253, was found to contain 400 compressed plates of marijuana during a security check at the Bo Waterside port of entry. The driver fled the scene upon the discovery of the drugs and is currently being sought by law enforcement.

The minibus has been impounded, and LDEA intelligence units are conducting a search for the fugitive driver. Authorities have intensified their efforts to curtail the growing drug problem, which has plagued Liberia in recent years.

Liberia’s ongoing drug crisis, exacerbated by the low cost and availability of narcotics such as kush—sold for as little as LD$100 per pack—continues to threaten the country’s youth. According to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, factors contributing to the increase in “At-Risk Youth” include peer pressure, poverty, abuse, weak family support systems, and intergenerational drug use. Many of today’s drug addicts are the children of former child soldiers, who were introduced to drugs at a young age.

Drug abuse is an escalating problem in Liberia. While there is no reliable data on the number of users, a study by the United Nations Population Fund Liberia revealed that a staggering one in five Liberian youth use narcotics.

The U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime’s 2023 report identifies Africa as a key transit route for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana from South America to Europe. In the Sahel region—covering parts of western and north-central Africa—the amount of cocaine seized spiked dramatically, rising from 13 kg per year in 2020 to 863 kg in 2022.

President Boakai, during his campaign for the presidency, promised to combat drug abuse. Shortly after his inauguration, he took decisive steps by undergoing a drug test alongside Vice President Jeremiah Koung and establishing a special taskforce on drugs. However, he has faced criticism recently for not following through on these efforts. The taskforce has not reported any significant activities or achievements for months, and, to make matters worse, its budget was slashed by over US$1 million.

Monrovia – The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) has seized a consignment of 2kilograms of heroin brought into the country on an Arik Flight from Nigeria.

The bag containing the heroin was sent to Achebe Joseph Uwadioma (AKA, Don Joe), a Nigerian national who operates a business at Waterside and Mechlin Street.

The suspicious package was mixed with other foodstuffs to conceal its identity and was being cleared by Mr. Uwadioma’s broker only identified as Lincoln at present.

The heroine was detected by an Officer of Customs Anti-Smuggling and Intelligence Section (ASIS) of the LRA. The seizure is an outcome of a rigorous risk based compliance examination being undertaken by the LRA on cargo entering Liberia through RIA.

LRA, upon seizing the consignment, turned it over to the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for testing and it was confirmed by LDEA that the consignment was heroine. It was also further confirmed by the Liberia National Police Lab as positive for heroine.

The consignment has been turned over to the LDEA for further investigation and disposal. LRA hopes that the investigation will lead to the ring being busted and that the criminals will face the statutory jail time.

LRA Commissioner General Elfrieda Stewart Tamba also said that the LRA, in pursuit of its statutory responsibility to collect lawful revenue, will collaborate with all relevant agencies in preventing the flow of illicit drugs through Liberia ports of entry.

CG Tamba has meanwhile, thanked the LRA Customs Officer and the other agencies for their swift collaboration.

It can be recalled that Customs, sometimes ago, also seized counterfeit Liberian dollars that were smuggled through the Bo Waterside Land Port, concealed in a television.

Monrovia – A media executive, turned politician has termed the menace of drug abuse in Liberia as national issues that must be tackled holistically by Government.

Speaking when he launched the National Drug Awareness Campaign of the nonprofit group, Liberia Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE); Mr. Carlton Boah stressed, “Drug addiction is a national issue. Government has to deal with it before any other people deal with it”.

The campaign, launched under the theme, “Regaining the lost mind and maintaining the valuable ones” was held at the Geda AME Church edifice in Brewerville on Saturday, 27 August.

Also, the Pastor of the Geda AME Church, Rev. Johnny W. Cummings also thrilled the about 150 drug users with his life-touching message. “I have been a victim”, Rev. Cummings narrated; stressing, “I have been one time in my life hit by this epidemic”.

“It starts small, it doesn’t start big. It started with cigarette and then moved on to marijuana. However, it graduated to cocaine”, he explained.

With the message touching the lifestyle of many of the users attending the program, they began to shout, “Preach it”!

The Executive Director of Liberians Against Drug Abuse (LADA), Eugene David says the “best way to stop doing drug is not to start it”. He then called on Liberians to show affection to drug users.

“The community members have to show love to drug addicts to get them out of the addiction”; David asserts.

He also added that in the quest to curb the importation of illicit drugs, the communities have to ensure the prevention of the consumption of the substances. “If you don’t have the demand for illicit, the importation will be less”, David concluded.

For her part, the Executive Director of Liberia Initiative for Empowerment (LIFE), Madam Jodie M. Reid-Seton emphasized that this is just the beginning of her group’s effort to fight Drug Abuse in Liberia.

“You will see us regularly in the ghettos here in Brewerville and around Liberia spreading the message that you are greater than how you see yourself now”.

“I am so proud of every one of you that turnout today”.

Speaking on behalf of the Drug users, five starred Bobby Quiwonkpa lauded Madam Seton and her staff for reaching to them.

“We’ve been abandoned but for her choosing to come to us, it will help us recover from this lifestyle”, the son of the slain Commander of the Armed Forces asserted.

The Liberia Initiative for Empowerment is a nonprofit group founded by Mrs. Seton and her colleagues with the sole aim of reaching out to the less fortunate and forgotten to give them deserving life that will turn them into productive citizens.