Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph N. Boakai has cautioned Liberians to refrain from protecting those engaged in activities that jeopardize national security, stressing that it is the responsibility of every citizen to assist in defending the nation against drug trafficking and other crimes.
Speaking on Friday, July 24, 2026, at a Thanksgiving and intercessory prayer at the Buchanan Mosque in Grand Bassa County as part of events commemorating Liberia’s 179th anniversary of independence, President Boakai emphasized that common people are the country’s first line of defense and pointed out that security agencies cannot defeat drugs and transnational crime on their own.
“We should not protect people who are here to harm this country. We are against nobody, only people who are against the interest of the country,” Boakai declared.
The Liberian leader also cautioned that the future of the nation, especially its youth, is seriously threatened by the country’s increasing links to international drug trafficking. He warned that criminal networks are trying to utilize Liberia as a transit hub for illicit substances, which may undermine the nation’s standing internationally and discourage foreign investment.
“Little gaps in the world could have an impact on your life, regardless of who you are. We should all work to ensure that our country is drug-free because people want to use our country for drug trafficking or in ways that deny us a future.”
The president stressed that although law enforcement plays a significant role, patriotic citizens who are prepared to reject illegal activity are ultimately responsible for maintaining national security. “The real security is the citizens who are committed to making sure that this country is protected. There is nothing anyone can do without somebody knowing about it. If you know this is your country, then you have the responsibility to protect it.”
He urged Liberians to reject criminal enterprises disguised as business opportunities, encouraging investors instead to focus on productive sectors such as agriculture and other legitimate industries that create jobs and strengthen the economy. “They want to do business; let them invest. Let them invest in agriculture and other productive sectors. Let us protect this country together,” Boakai added.
Additionally, President Boakai connected the battle against drugs to Liberia’s economic program, pointing out that nations that are suspected of being drug trafficking hubs sometimes have trouble attracting prospective investors and development partners. “People who wish to invest or collaborate with us will eventually start to view Liberia differently if we are perceived as a drug nation,” he said.
The president encouraged a stronger sense of national unity in addressing the issue, stating that all Liberians, irrespective of their political or religious beliefs, have a shared duty to protect the nation’s future. Boakai, however, reiterated his administration’s dedication to safeguarding Liberia’s future and called on the populace to unify against those who would jeopardize the country’s progress, peace, and security.
His comments follow the announcement by Liberian authorities of one of the biggest cocaine seizures in the nation, uncovering nearly four metric tons of suspected cocaine and exposing what investigators described as a sophisticated international drug trafficking network.
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
