President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has reaffirmed his administration’s zero-tolerance policy on drug trafficking and substance abuse during a Cabinet meeting involving the Ministry of Health and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency.
“No matter who is involved or what position they hold, nobody will be spared, the President declared. He stated that anyone connected to drug crimes, regardless of their position, will face justice, citing the recent US$19 million drug seizure as an example.
President Boakai also recalled that he and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung voluntarily took drug tests at the start of the administration to demonstrate leadership and commitment to the anti-drug campaign.
He urged all Cabinet members and government institutions to strengthen coordination and take decisive action to protect Liberia, especially its youth, from the dangers of illegal drugs. At the same time, the Liberian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to combating drug trafficking and substance abuse, with Deputy Minister for Press and Public Affairs Daniel O. Sando announcing that suspects linked to the recent 19-kilogram drug seizure at Roberts International Airport will be formally charged once ongoing investigations are completed.
Speaking Thursday at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, Sando said President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr chaired a special Cabinet meeting to review the government’s response to drug abuse, strengthen inter agency coordination, and accelerate efforts in prevention, law enforcement, rehabilitation, and public awareness.
He said investigations have expanded beyond those arrested at the airport, as authorities seek to dismantle what they believe is a transnational drug trafficking network using Liberia as a transit point. Sando also disclosed that the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency-Ldea seized more than 1,125 kilograms of illegal drugs between January 2025 and June 22, 2026, resulting in the arrest of 1,031 suspects and 86 convictions, with several cases still pending before the courts.
On infrastructure, Sando announced that President Boakai will on Friday break ground for the Japan Freeway Expansion Project, a 1.9-kilometer road rehabilitation initiative funded by the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The project is expected to improve traffic flow, drainage, and access to the Freeport of Monrovia. He further announced the launch of the Liberia National Police’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan, aimed at strengthening policing, community engagement, and institutional capacity.
Additionally, Sando said the government has completed consultations on a revised National Gender Policy that seeks to promote gender equality, women’s empowerment, and inclusive national development in line with the Boakai administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
