By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
Monrovia – The National Youth League of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has declared its full support for the thousands of Liberians who gathered at the Capitol today in protest against the alarming rise in drug trafficking and substance abuse across the country.
In a strongly worded statement issued following the demonstration, the Youth League expressed solidarity with “patriotic citizens” taking a stand against what it described as a “national crisis” that has turned once-safe communities into dangerous zones plagued by crime and addiction.
“For the past two years, drug trafficking and substance abuse have skyrocketed, leaving many communities in the capital and around the country unsafe,” the League stated. “Liberia, once a beacon of stability, has become a hotbed for drug activity, now recording one of the highest rates of drug use in West Africa.”
The group highlighted the emergence of a dangerous synthetic drug known as “Zombie,” first discovered in 2024, which it said has had a devastating effect on Liberian youth.
Citing alarming figures, the Youth League noted that two or three out of every ten young people in Liberia are now using narcotic substances, with addiction linked to increased incidents of armed robbery and theft.
The CDC Youth League praised former President George M. Weah for signing the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act into law in 2023, describing it as a “bold and necessary” move. However, the group criticized the current Unity Party-led administration for failing to enforce the law effectively.
“President Boakai and his administration have failed to combat this menace,” the statement said. “The frequent changes in leadership at the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) highlight a gross incompetence and a lack of political will.”
In an explosive allegation, the Youth League called on President Joseph Boakai to enforce drug laws starting within his own family, accusing his sons, Tan Tan Boakai and Joe Boakai Jr., of being involved in the importation and distribution of narcotic substances. These claims made by the CDC against the first family remain unverifiable as the statement provided no proof to substantiate the claims.
It also demanded that the former LDEA director and deputies be brought to justice for their alleged roles in facilitating large drug shipments into the country.
As protests continue, the League condemned the participation of government officials and lawmakers in the marches, accusing them of hypocrisy for joining public demonstrations while “failing to perform their constitutional duties.”
“They have a responsibility to provide oversight and enforce the laws that protect our country from drug trafficking and abuse,” the League emphasized.
The Youth League ended its statement with a rallying call for grassroots action, urging Liberians to identify drug suppliers, expose drug dens, and protect vulnerable youth from addiction.
“As we all march today to say ‘NO TO DRUGS,’ we call for this energy to extend into our communities,” the statement read. “The fight against illicit drugs requires practical steps and political will, not empty words from the Executive Mansion.”
