By Jamesetta D Williams
Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh Sr., has vowed to intensify the government’s fight against illegal drugs, describing the country’s growing narcotics crisis as a direct threat to an entire generation of young Liberians.
Delivering a statement Friday in observance of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Justice Minister said the widespread use of kush and other dangerous narcotics has become a national emergency that demands coordinated action from government, communities, and families.
“We have buried too many young people,” Tweh said, noting that the synthetic drug kush has devastated communities across the country and left many young people homeless, addicted, and vulnerable.
The Attorney General referenced President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s declaration of the drug crisis as a national emergency, saying the Ministry of Justice and its security agencies are committed to aggressively enforcing the law against traffickers while expanding support for rehabilitation efforts.
According to Tweh, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) seized more than 422 kilograms of illegal narcotics and arrested 233 suspected traffickers during the first three months of 2026. He also highlighted the recent interception at Roberts International Airport of a cocaine shipment valued at approximately US$19 million, describing the operation as evidence that Liberia’s security institutions are strengthening efforts to combat international drug trafficking.
The Justice Minister warned that the government will target not only street-level dealers but also the financiers, importers, traffickers, and corrupt officials who facilitate the illegal drug trade.
He stressed that while law enforcement remains essential, arrests alone will not solve the crisis. Instead, he called for greater investment in treatment and rehabilitation programs for people struggling with addiction, emphasizing that drug dependence should also be addressed as a public health challenge.
Tweh appealed to parents, teachers, religious leaders, traditional authorities, and community members to play active roles in preventing drug abuse by educating young people, identifying early warning signs, and supporting those seeking recovery.
Addressing young Liberians battling addiction, the Justice Minister encouraged them not to lose hope, assuring them that the government is committed to creating opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
He concluded by urging all Liberians to make the fight against drugs a personal responsibility by reporting drug dens, supporting rehabilitation efforts, and demanding accountability from public officials charged with protecting the country.
The statement formed part of Liberia’s observance of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, as the government renewed its commitment to combating narcotics trafficking and protecting the nation’s youth.
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