MONROVIA–Liberia’s future is said to be at stake in light of the recent seizure of $19 million cocaine at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) just as it is seen as a “defining moment” in the fight against drugs, and the response must balance justice with compassion, or risk losing an entire generation.
With the country still in the throes of uncertainty not just over the status and hugeness of the drugs in question but also the ambiguity surrounding the investigations, with the government yet to make major breakthrough, the country’s future is said to be dangling and its resolve is being tested.
Amid all of this, the calls that justice must be meted out squarely are unanimous and that everyone involved be brought to light.
Adama Kiatamba Dempster, National Secretary General of the Civil Society Human Rights Advocacy Platform of Liberia and Global Human Rights Ambassador, took note of where the country stands and what lies ahead of its young generation, insisting there should be no sacred cow and that those involved must be account for their roles.
In a keynote address at the 4th Annual Youth Policy Dialogue on Drug Prevention Thursday under the theme “Addressing Substance Abuse from a Human Rights Perspective”, Dempster told government officials, development partners, youth leaders, and civil society that substance abuse is not only a health and security crisis, it is also a human rights crisis that attacks dignity, health, and the future of young Liberians.
Centering his remarks on the recent interception of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at over US$19 million at Roberts International Airport, which he called one of Liberia’s largest drug seizures ever, he said the $19m cocaine seizure is a test of justice, not just enforcement.
While he praised law enforcement for the operation, he said the case now presents a “critical test of Liberia’s commitment to human rights, transparency, and the rule of law.”
“This case must not only be about arrests; it must be about justice,” Dempster said. He urged government to ensure the investigation meets standards of transparency and due process, with independent human rights institutions like the Independent National Commission on Human Rights involved.
He gave a blunt warning, saying “We must avoid a situation where vulnerable individuals become the only targets while powerful actors remain hidden or cover up. Justice must not be selective.”
Mr. Dempster argued that drug trafficking is “an attack on the future of our children, an attack on public health, and an attack on national development,” and called for accountability for anyone involved — regardless of position or connection — while insisting every accused person retains the right to a fair trial.
According to him, “The souls of the young are in the hands of government,” painting a stark picture of the drug crisis on the ground – the addiction, mental health breakdowns, violence, school dropout, family collapse, unemployment, and “loss of hope” among youth.
“Behind every young person affected by substance abuse is a human being with dreams, talents, and potential. We must never forget that,” he said.
A human rights approach, he argued, means “responding with both justice and compassion,” holding traffickers accountable while ensuring people struggling with addiction get prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery support.
Dempster made five important demands of the government, including strengthening LDEA capacity.
He cited reports that “around 80% of LDEA officers are volunteers” without salaries or incentives, and said the agency lacks equipment and budget. “If 80% of the people that line up to fight drugs are volunteers, what do you expect,” he asked. He said Liberia is becoming an “easy corridor” for trafficking because of underfunding.
As for the ongoing probe in the $19m cocaine bust, he urged the Government to involve INCHR and international human rights mechanisms to ensure the cocaine investigation respects due process.
He also called on the government to invest in youth opportunity, ensuring funding for education, skills training, entrepreneurship, and leadership, adding “A young person with hope and opportunity is less vulnerable to destructive influences.”
The civil society leader also called for the expansion of mental health & rehab in order to treat addiction as a health/social challenge while treating trafficking as a serious crime.
“More counseling, rehab centers, and community recovery programs are needed,” Dempster stressed.
Speaking directly to Liberia’s youth, he described them as “You are not a lost generation”
“You are not a lost generation. You are a generation of possibilities. Your dreams are bigger and beyond drugs. Your future is greater than addiction.”
He urged youth to see their voice, leadership, and choices as critical to building “a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous Liberia.”
As the world commemorated the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Dempster framed the fight in moral terms: “Let us choose prevention over destruction. Let us choose rehabilitation over stigma. Let us choose accountability over silence. Let us choose human rights for all.”
Dempster’s address used the $19m cocaine case to push a broader argument: Liberia cannot arrest its way out of the drug crisis. Without investment in institutions like LDEA, without youth opportunity, and without treating addiction as a health issue, the country will keep recycling the same cycle.
The dialogue, organized by Global Action for Sustainable Development, brought together policymakers and youth to discuss solutions. Dempster’s challenge to government was clear: protect institutions, protect rights, and protect the next generation.
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