Since early June 2026, the dominant news out of Liberia is about drug trafficking or drug distribution in Liberia. Our news outlets, both traditional and social media, are saturated with news about drugs that have either been distributed in Liberia or intended for transshipment abroad. This is not the first time illicit drugs are making headlines in Liberia. From the 90s and up to now we have always heard about drug seizure and burning. However, the recent drug bust in the country only shows that news about drugs is not going away any time soon. The question is, are people caught in drug activities paying enough price for their actions? Are they getting their just punishment? Indeed, those involved in drug trafficking are risk takers. They know they could go to jail, or in some places be put to death but they are not deterred. They like to take their chances, regardless of the consequences.

Over the years, many organizations have taken on the responsibility to help our young people to kick the habit of drugs. Not too long ago there were huge marches on the streets of Monrovia, perhaps in other parts of Liberia. These marches were intended to create more awareness about the proliferation of drug abuse in the country. Efforts like these by the civil society organizations give one the hope that society has not forgotten our young men and women who are addicted to drugs and are becoming a menace to society. These local drug users who are either in and out of prisons and those that are seen in ghettos throughout Liberia are seen by many as victims of the social economic conditions that encourage them to turn to drug abuse. Some of these come from good family backgrounds but when they run away from their parents and relatives, they end up in the ghettos. These end users of the illegal substance are just small potatoes in the big pot. While our spotlight is always kept on these small town drug peddlers or users, the big fish go unnoticed and unpunished. The big fish are not the ones we come across every day. They are the big men and women of society. They wear our security uniforms and work in either private or public security such as the police. Others wear suits as corporate executives working in government and private offices. So, the network of people, who move drugs from one place to another come from diverse professional backgrounds.

In recent time, there have been some dismissals and arrests. While President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has been praised for those dismissals and jailing, the public sentiment is that those dismissed or arrested are the low hanging fruits in the war against drugs. In the last two weeks, the authority burnt more than 300 million worth of drugs. All these are intended to gain public confidence that the government is serious about the combat against drugs in Liberia. While some folks have been dismissed or are placed in detention, and while drugs have been burnt, the public is not yet satisfied as it continues to demand that the "big names" be named in order to show that the government is serious.

As such, in recent times, some "big names" have been mentioned either in news reports, or on media reports, or on social media. How credible is such information is the question. Among those top names mentioned are Gregory Coleman, the Liberia National Police Inspector General as well as the foreign minister, Sara Beysolow Nyanti. How much truth is in these allegations remains to be seen. These are just speculations until they are backed by concrete evidence.  Drugs bust in the hundreds of thousands have got to have plenty of hands involved from the people at the top and the bottom of the food chain. According to recent media reports, "the Foreign Minister has been accused of links with the cartel" but she has denied any involvement.  In regards to the same drug charges, media reports said that officer-in-Charge Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Fitzgerald T. M. Biago "has temporarily recused himself from the functions of his office, as he comes under mounting public pressure over an allegation that he received a vehicle as a gift from a drug trafficker or persons allegedly connected to a drug-trafficking organization." According to report, he said last week that he has "requested to temporarily step aside while the allegation concerning him is independently investigated." These are interesting developments in the ongoing drug saga in the country. Investigation must continue and let no stone be left unturned. All we can say or urge everyone not to do is to politicize this drug investigation. There should be no sacred cow as we said before. This menace has to be dealt with once and for all. So far, the government is showing commitment in the fight against drugs and we hope it remain committed. We must win this fight against drug trafficking in our country. We must win the fight against the menace drug has become in our country. We must save our youths who are the future of Liberia.