By Bill W. Cooper
The Deputy Director for Operations at the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Hassan Fadiga, has alarmed that Liberia is now facing a serious growing drug crisis that threatens to undermine the country’s peace, stability, and development.
Fadiga revealed that the increasing drug epidemic crisis continues to ravage the citizenry, precisely the lives of the young people of Liberia, thus predicting a bleak future for the country.
Fadiga spoke to a team of journalists after the graduation ceremony of 17 former drug addicts from Montserrado County Senator, Abraham Darius Dillon’s Rehabilitation Center over the weekend in Paynesville.
According to him, statistics have shown that 2 out of every 10 youths are on substance abuse, 20 percent of young people are on drugs, while about 1.1 million young people are addicted to drugs across the country, stressing that Liberia is doomed to failure and serious destruction if the current drug crisis remains unchecked and unhampered.
He maintained, “The drug crisis in Liberia is reaching epidemic proportions and we are seeing a serious increase in drug trafficking, drug abuse, and related crimes such as violence and armed robbery, and if we as a government do not act now, the consequences for our country will be dire.”
Fadiga intimated that the drug crisis must claim the attention of all stakeholders, including international partners, and each and every Liberian, and reiterated the call for budgetary support to the DEA, while emphasizing a multisector approach to curb the menace.
“We are seeing an increase in the production and trafficking of illegal drugs, particularly cocaine and heroin and the new drug called ‘kush’, and interestingly, these drugs are finding their way into our communities, leading to a rise in drug abuse and addiction.
This, in turn, is also fueling crime and violence, as drug users resort to desperate measures to feed their habits, thus leaving other peaceful citizens in harm’s way and being exposed to robbery, intimidation, and physical attacks,” he intoned.
Fadiga further highlighted the impact of the drug crisis on Liberia’s economy and social fabric, asserting, “Drug trafficking and abuse are undermining our efforts to build a stable and prosperous society.”
“Because the drug trade is a major source of funding for criminal organizations, which are able to operate with impunity and corrupt our institutions. This not only undermining the rule of law but also erodes public trust in our government and institutions.
“But again, we cannot afford to ignore this problem any longer. We need to strengthen our law enforcement efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks, increase access to treatment and rehabilitation for drug users, and raise awareness about the dangers of drug abuse,” he noted.
The LDEA Deputy Boss further stressed the need to work with other international partners to address the root causes of the drug crisis, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunities for young people.
He then called on the government and civil society to prioritize the fight against drugs, and to allocate the necessary resources to address the problem, adding, “We need a whole-of-society approach to tackle the drug crisis in Liberia because it is not just a law enforcement issue but a social, economic, and health issue that requires a coordinated and sustained effort from all sectors of society.”
