Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has declared an uncompromising national campaign against drug trafficking and substance abuse, warning that no individual, regardless of status or position, will be shielded from prosecution as his administration intensifies efforts to dismantle criminal drug networks threatening Liberia’s future.
During a Cabinet meeting at the Executive Mansion on Thursday, July 2, 2026, Boakai called drug usage a “national emergency” that is harming Liberia’s youth, damaging the country’s reputation abroad, and impeding national growth. He promised that anyone participating in the importation, distribution, and trafficking of illegal substances will face severe consequences from his government.
“We’re not going to spare anyone, no matter who is involved or what position they hold. Drug trafficking is damaging our country and the health of our future generation. It has become deeply entrenched, and we must dismantle the syndicates behind it,” Boakai narrated.
Noting that recent significant drug seizures show the scope of the problem facing the nation, the president urged Cabinet members to take a unified national stance against the escalating drug threat and asked for more robust enforcement actions. In addition to the anti-drug campaign, Boakai announced a number of significant government initiatives, such as plans to boost Liberia’s electricity sector to draw in industrial investment, a thorough review of public sector salaries and benefits, and the formation of a committee to reform public sector compensation.
Additionally, he acknowledged the commitment of the medical staff at John F. Kennedy Medical Center and disclosed that the government is planning further expansion plans for the nation’s largest referral hospital while getting ready to introduce a national health insurance program to increase access to healthcare. The President also expressed concern about the increasing number of requests from government officials to attend conferences abroad, directing senior ministers to examine all travel requests to make sure they are both necessary and economical.
In the wake of the tragic floods in neighbouring Ghana, Boakai also called for more robust disaster preparedness measures, cautioning Liberians against building in waterways and stressing the importance of taking preventative measures before similar tragedies occur in Liberia. As the government prepares to launch what officials describe as one of Liberia’s most aggressive anti-drug campaigns in recent years, the Cabinet meeting ended with the Director General of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency getting ready to present a thorough assessment of the nation’s drug and substance abuse situation.
