‘Liberia Must Not Become a Drug Corridor’ — STAND Takes Fight to UN

The Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND), in collaboration with a consortium of Liberian civil society organizations, anti-drug advocates, diaspora leaders and youth activists, is taking Liberia’s growing narcotics crisis to the international stage with a planned mobilization during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

The Liberia Anti-Drug Global Action at UNGA 81 is expected to bring together Liberian civil society actors and advocates to demand greater accountability, stronger institutions and increased international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking.

STAND says the initiative is driven by concerns over the scale of recent cocaine seizures in Liberia.

In June, Liberian authorities reported intercepting approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport, valued at more than US$19 million. Weeks later, authorities reportedly uncovered an operation in Duazon involving about 4.2 metric tons of cocaine, reportedly valued at approximately US$336 million.

STAND says the scale of the reported seizures raises serious questions about the financing, organization and networks behind the alleged trafficking operations.

“Investigations cannot end with couriers, drivers, warehouse operators or others at the lowest operational levels. They must identify the financiers, organizers, facilitators, protectors and beneficiaries behind the networks,” STAND said.

The organization is calling for credible and independent investigations to determine how the narcotics entered or moved through Liberia, which international trafficking networks may have been involved and whether individuals or institutions facilitated or benefited from the operations.

STAND is also urging authorities to examine possible vulnerabilities within Liberia’s security institutions.

A Public Health and Security Crisis

STAND says Liberia’s drug problem should not be treated solely as a law-enforcement issue but also as a public-health and national-security emergency.

The organization is calling for greater investment in drug prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, mental-health services, education, skills development and employment opportunities for people affected by substance dependency.

“Liberians struggling with substance dependency need prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, mental-health services, education, skills development and opportunities for social and economic reintegration—not simply condemnation, incarceration or abandonment,” the group said.

STAND argues that large-scale narcotics operations could also expose Liberia to the influence of sophisticated international criminal networks capable of exploiting institutional weaknesses.

Six Calls to Action

The organization has outlined six major demands, including transparent and independent investigations, stronger international cooperation, greater protection for young people and improved capacity within Liberia’s drug-control institutions.

It is also calling for authorities to “follow the money” by identifying individuals, businesses and intermediaries involved in financing, laundering or benefiting from narcotics proceeds.

STAND wants Liberia to strengthen cooperation with neighboring West African countries, ECOWAS, relevant United Nations institutions, INTERPOL and other international partners on intelligence sharing, forensic support, border security and specialized training.

‘This Is a Campaign for Liberia’

STAND says the planned mobilization is nonpartisan and is not intended to target any political party.

“This is not an international campaign against Liberia. It is an international campaign for Liberia,” the organization said.

It maintains that Liberia’s drug crisis did not begin with the current administration and should not be reduced to political competition between the Unity Party, the CDC or other political organizations.

However, STAND says the current government has the responsibility to ensure accountability because it exercises the authority of the state.

“Holding the government accountable is not partisan; it is a fundamental responsibility of democratic citizenship,” the group said.

Liberia’s Drug Crisis to Take Center Stage at UNGA

During the UN General Assembly, STAND says it will combine peaceful public action with engagements involving diplomatic missions, international organizations, diaspora groups, media institutions and organizations working in drug control, public health, human rights, governance and transnational organized crime.

The group plans to present a Liberia Anti-Drug Accountability Memorandum outlining its demands, available evidence, proposed reforms and areas requiring international assistance.

STAND says the objective is to turn international attention into concrete action to protect Liberia’s institutions and young people.

“Do not allow drugs to steal Liberia’s next generation. Do not allow international criminal networks to penetrate or compromise Liberia’s institutions,” STAND said.

The global action is scheduled for September 2026 in New York during the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

STAND’s message: “Liberia’s future must not be surrendered to drugs.”