The war against illegal drugs and peddlers has intensified as the Liberia National Police (LNP) joined the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and community dwellers to ensure that illegal substances are rooted out of Liberia to save the lives of users.
On Thursday, August 21, 2025, the LNP launched a massive raid on a notorious ghetto operating within the vicinity of the King Gray Cemetery in Paynesville. During the raid, several suspected drug users and criminal gangs, commonly referred to as “Zogos,” were arrested and taken to the LNP headquarters for screening and subsequent investigation. The Police operation is said to be part of its renewed efforts to curb rising drug abuse and crimes linked to disadvantaged youth across Monrovia.
The raid, which began in the early hours of the day, saw armed officers storming makeshift structures and hideouts within the graveyard that had long been converted into a haven for narcotic activities. The crackdown follows police intelligence that the cemetery had become a major drug trafficking hub and a breeding ground for armed robbery.
Upon arrest of the drug suspects, officers were seen cutting the hair of the males (zogos) aimed at giving them a better facial appearance. Officers told our reporter during the raid that those arrested will be enrolled in rehabilitation programs and later integrated into society. There were also tip-offs from our sources at the Liberia National Police headquarters of plans to carry out similar action at other ghettos in Monrovia and adjacent areas. It can be recalled that on August 7, 2025, dozens of citizens marched through the streets of Monrovia protesting under the slogan “Say No To Drugs”
