Residents of 4th Street, Saye Town in Sinkor have taken the lead in the demolition of ghettoes in the area, leaving several suspected drug dealers arrested and turned over to the Liberia National Police. On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, the residents were seen destroying and burning down shelters used by drug dealers and users.
Some of the residents said the authorities responsible for fighting the drugs are not doing anything and want the government to put Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) outside to deal with drug issues in the country. Residents said the community woke up by 5:00 A.M. and started destroying the drug users’ shelter because their children, friends, uncles and aunties were spoiling daily as a result of drug use and addiction.
Speaking with journalists, the head of the community residents of Saye Town, Wleemongar B. James, said the decision to get rid of drug users’ shelters was necessary because the issue of drugs is everybody’s business. James said the Government of Liberia is trying its best but as citizens of the country, they deem it necessary to curb the effort of the government.
According to him, the ghetto destroyed by residents of the community is the hottest ghetto within Monrovia where criminal activities take place. “The residents of Saye Town thought it wise that we take a bold step to destroy ghettos or shelters being used by drug users and dealers within our community,” he stressed.
James further said about 63 drug users and 10 dealers were arrested and turned over. He also said the community will continue to go after drug users in the community. The issue of drugs is gradually becoming a matter of national emergency with almost every sector demanding serious action by state actors towards at least curbing the importation and sale of these harmful substances, which are damaging the future generation of the nation.
Just last Thursday, August 7, 2025, a diverse group of Liberians marched at the Capitol Building to voice their support in the fight against drugs and illicit substance abuse. Their placards displayed powerful messages, reading, “No to Drugs. Yes to Life. We stand together against drugs and illicit substance abuse.”
Among the participants braving the heavy downpour were government officials, civil society members, marketers, seniors, and prominent figures, along with disadvantaged youth affected by drug use. As they chanted anti-drug slogans, many mothers wept, expressing their grief over the loss of their children to drugs. They demanded that the government strictly enforce drug laws without bias.
The protesters demanded that state actors implement rigorous programs aimed at enforcing anti-drug laws, creating effective rehabilitation for drug addicts, among others. The urgency of the protesters’ message seemed to resonate with the Government of Liberia, which reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the serious drug situation in the country. Deputy Government Spokesperson Daniel Sando spoke to journalists during a Ministry of Information press briefing, stating that the government is determined to combat illicit drug activities on Liberian soil.
Sando emphasized that the government’s approach to combating drug abuse would not only involve public awareness campaigns but also the establishment of rehabilitation centers across all 15 counties of Liberia. This initiative aims to empower young Liberians who have fallen victim to drugs by providing them with technical skills to build meaningful futures. Therefore, the action of the Saye Town Community residents is a direct application of the urgency of the drug situation in Liberia, requiring all hands on deck to tackle the menace.
