FLASHBACK: Recent anti-drugs protest in Monrovia

Press Release

The Community Action Against Drug Abuse (CAADA) expresses deep concern over the ongoing raids and dislodgment of drug-affected youth from dens across Liberia.

While we recognize the efforts of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), supported by communities, to curb the spread of dangerous substances, these actions must be accompanied by coordinated, rights-based, and compassionate interventions to protect and rehabilitate affected youth.

We call on the Government of Liberia, through the LDEA, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and social welfare agencies, to:

1. Establish a coordinated referral and support system to ensure drug-affected youth gain access to psychosocial counseling, rehabilitation, vocational training, and reintegration opportunities.
2. Collect and manage reliable data on those arrested, displaced, or identified as victims of substance abuse to guide evidence-based interventions and resource allocation.
3. Uphold the UN International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy, ensuring that enforcement actions respect the dignity, rights, and safety of all individuals, particularly vulnerable youth.

CAADA observes with concern a growing trend where drug pushers are increasingly using women as couriers, resulting in a disproportionate number of women being arrested during raids.

CAADA says while arrests based on evidence of possession are valid, we urge the LDEA to intensify its operations beyond low-level couriers to dismantle the hierarchies of the trafficking network, often controlled by men who remain shielded or at large.

CAADA says such trends raise legitimate questions about whether these key actors are evading accountability or being protected, undermining public trust and the effectiveness of anti-drug efforts.

Meanwhile, CAADA cautions all stakeholders involved in the anti-drug campaign and statutory authorities that the UN International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy emphasize that national drug policies and interventions must prioritize health, human dignity, and evidence-based interventions. The guidelines emphasized:

1. Access to treatment, harm reduction, and social support instead of punitive-only measures.
2. Protection of vulnerable populations, especially youth, women, and marginalized groups.
3. Transparent data collection and accountability in drug enforcement activities.
4. Full alignment with international human rights treaties to ensure no one is subjected to inhumane treatment or discrimination.

CAADA warns that a solely law-enforcement-driven approach cannot resolve the drug crisis. It is only through collaborative, health-centered strategies uniting government, civil society, faith-based groups, and communities that Liberia can confront drug abuse while safeguarding the lives and futures of its young people.

CAADA cautions that the mass dislodgement of drug-affected youth without structured support systems risks escalating community insecurity and criminality. Without access to treatment, shelter, or reintegration opportunities, displaced youth may be forced into survival-driven crimes, exacerbating fear and instability within communities. This underscores the urgent need for comprehensive community-based interventions to pair enforcement with prevention, recovery, and social reintegration.

CAADA stands ready to partner with all stakeholders to create sustainable pathways for prevention, treatment, and reintegration, ensuring that no youth is left behind.