𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐠 𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐀 𝐎𝐮𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚

September 7, 2025

Monrovia: The House of Representatives has officially launched its legislative response to Liberia’s escalating drug crisis, with the Ad Hoc Committee on National Drug Emergency holding its first sitting today.

The hearing brought together key witnesses from the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), Ministry of Education (MOE), Liberia National Police (LNP), and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).

Chairing the session was Representative Samson Q. Wiah, who leads the seven-member specialized committee instituted by Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon on September 1, 2025.

In his opening remarks, Rep. Wiah delivered a sobering message about the scale and urgency of the crisis, describing it as an existential threat eating away at the very core of Liberian society.

He cited the synthetic drug “kush” as a primary driver of youth devastation, referencing a 2023 UN study that found one in five Liberian youths is a narcotics user. Data from that same year revealed that over 60 percent of drug-related arrests involved individuals aged 15 to 30.

The consequences, he said, are far-reaching and deeply felt. The Ministry of Health reported that over 35 percent of mental health cases in primary urban clinics involve young people with a history of substance abuse, while the Liberia Psychiatric Association confirmed that drug addiction is now the leading cause of psychiatric admissions at the nation’s main mental hospital.

“We are losing a generation to this menace,” Rep. Wiah declared. He outlined the committee’s mandate, which includes reviewing and strengthening Liberia’s drug laws to ensure they are both punitive for traffickers and rehabilitative for users.

He emphasized the need for close collaboration with the Executive Branch and relevant agencies to ensure a coordinated national response.  Rep. Wiah also called for increased budgetary support to fund rehabilitation centers, public awareness campaigns, and law enforcement initiatives.

With over 866 active drug dens in Monrovia alone and fewer than five fully functional rehabilitation centers nationwide, he stressed that current resources are woefully inadequate.

Also appearing before the committee was Deputy Commissioner of Police Fitzgerald T. M. Biago, who now serves as Officer-in-Charge of the LDEA following his recent appointment by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

Biago presented a detailed briefing on the agency’s interim reform strategy, focused on restoring integrity, improving internal operations, and enhancing community engagement.

He announced that all LDEA personnel would undergo mandatory drug testing to ensure credibility within the agency.  A strategic structure and policy review committee has been constituted to examine internal policies, training programs, and operational standards.

The agency is also engaging with government, private, and civil society partners to strengthen prevention efforts and public education.

Biago emphasized the importance of developing policies that address uniform standards, salary and insurance coverage, communication protocols, and fleet management.

He also noted the need to align agency procedures with recent health regulations, including restrictions on substances like shisha and tramadol.

The LDEA is currently reviewing its five-year strategic plan to ensure it reflects the urgency and scale of the current crisis.

In addition, Biago shared that the agency has developed a 90-day operational plan aimed at dismantling trafficking networks and suppressing substance abuse hotspots.

He appealed to lawmakers for support in securing funding for logistics, personnel expansion, and the establishment of a specialized court to fast-track drug cases.

He also highlighted the need for budgetary allocations to support sub-offices across the country and improve medical and life insurance coverage for officers.

As part of the decisions reached during the hearing, the committee resolved to conduct nationwide rehabilitation center visitations to review the existing roadmap, identify resource gaps, and determine areas where government intervention is needed for appropriation.

The committee also committed to engaging partners to clarify roles, responsibilities, and contributions in the national drug response.

Regular coordination meetings will be instituted to ensure sustained collaboration across sectors, and community involvement will be prioritized by the multi-sectoral committee to ensure grassroots ownership and impact.