NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA –Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) Political Leader, Musa Hassan Bility, has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to take full responsibility for what he describes as Liberia’s worsening drug crisis following the seizure of approximately 3,971 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated street value of more than US$317 million.
By: Sampson W Weah – sampsonwweah7@gmail.com
In a statement issued following the operation, Bility described the discovery as evidence that Liberia is facing a “national drug emergency.” He said the latest seizure has heightened public concern and exposed serious weaknesses in the country’s security and anti-narcotics systems.
The discovery comes just weeks after authorities intercepted 237.6 kilograms of suspected cocaine, valued at approximately US$19.2 million, at Roberts International Airport.
According to Bility, the two major seizures within a short period suggest the existence of a broader drug trafficking network that requires an urgent, coordinated, and transparent national response.
While commending the law enforcement officers whose intelligence led to the latest operation, Bility cautioned against interpreting the successful raid as evidence that Liberia’s security apparatus is functioning effectively.
Instead, he argued that the seizure raises troubling questions about how such a large quantity of suspected narcotics entered the country, remained undetected, and was allegedly stored for an extended period.
Bility called on the government to disclose the ownership of the property where the suspected drugs were discovered, identify those who financed the alleged trafficking operation, determine whether any public officials or security personnel were involved, and establish whether additional drug stockpiles remain hidden elsewhere in the country.
The Nimba County lawmaker also questioned how much of the suspected narcotics may already have found its way into Liberian communities.
The CMC political leader further challenged government claims that the alleged drug trafficking network has been operating in Liberia for more than six years.
He argued that such assertions should be supported by credible evidence rather than political rhetoric, noting that President Boakai, now more than two years into his administration, bears ultimate responsibility for addressing the country’s current security challenges, regardless of when the network may have emerged.
Bility also criticized what he described as attempts by the ruling Unity Party to politicize the crisis by blaming previous administrations and making what he termed unsubstantiated allegations against opposition figures.
He stressed that drug trafficking and substance abuse are national issues that affect all Liberians, regardless of political affiliation, warning that communities and families across the country continue to suffer the devastating consequences of narcotics.
Calling for decisive leadership, Bility urged President Boakai to address the nation without delay and announce concrete measures to confront the crisis.
Among his recommendations were the establishment of an independent investigation with international law enforcement support, an inquiry into any officials who may have facilitated or failed to detect the alleged trafficking operation, regular public updates on the investigation, a comprehensive security audit of Liberia’s ports and border entry points, and the transparent testing and destruction of all seized narcotics under judicial supervision.
Bility warned that continued delays, political distractions, and inadequate action risk undermining public confidence in state institutions and could threaten Liberia’s peace and stability.
He stressed that the country’s escalating drug problem transcends politics, describing it as a matter of national security and the future of Liberia’s next generation.
