By: Melvin Flomo
MONROVIA, Liberia – Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh has called on both the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) to end what he described as the politicization of Liberia's escalating drug crisis, warning that continued partisan battles will only strengthen criminal drug networks operating in the country.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page, Senator Konneh described the illegal drug trade as a national emergency that transcends politics, stressing that the crisis poses a direct threat to the lives and future of Liberia's young people.
"The illegal drug trade is not a political football for the 2029 elections," Konneh declared. "It is a matter of life and death for our youth and the future of our country."
The senator cautioned political actors against using recent high-profile drug seizures to score partisan points, saying accusations of "selective justice" and claims of government cover-ups risk eroding public trust in Liberia's justice and security institutions.
According to Konneh, available evidence suggests that international drug traffickers are operating in Liberia with the assistance and protection of influential local collaborators. While commending the recent efforts of the Joint Security in intercepting large quantities of narcotics, he insisted that arrests alone are insufficient without identifying the individuals and networks responsible for allowing such shipments to enter the country.
He called for a transparent, impartial, and comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the entry of nearly half a billion dollars' worth of cocaine into Liberia, urging authorities to expose everyone involved regardless of political affiliation or social status.
"Drug cartels don't care about party lines," Konneh warned. "If the UP and CDC continue treating the fight against drugs as another political battleground, the syndicates will emerge victorious, our communities will continue to suffer, and justice will become the greatest casualty."
The Gbarpolu County lawmaker further appealed for bipartisan cooperation, emphasizing that the fight against narcotics requires national unity rather than political division. He urged leaders across the political spectrum to prioritize the country's security and the protection of young Liberians over electoral interests.
Konneh's statement comes amid heightened national concern following Wednesday's joint security announcement regarding the seizure of an estimated US$317.6 million worth of cocaine in Duazon, Margibi County. Authorities have described the operation as the largest drug interception in Liberia's history and have launched an ongoing investigation aimed at dismantling the criminal network behind the shipment.
The latest seizure has reignited public debate over the growing influence of transnational drug trafficking organizations in Liberia and intensified calls for stronger border security, institutional accountability, and sustained collaboration among law enforcement agencies to combat organized crime.
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