By: Melvin Flomo | WhatsApp: 0778677647
MONROVIA, Liberia – Senator Amara Konneh has called for stronger accountability and sustained reforms in Liberia's fight against illegal drugs, warning that the country's battle against narcotics is only beginning.
In a statement titled, "The Invisible Hand, Moral Hazard, and Liberia's Drug Fight: The Battle is Just Beginning," Konneh used economic concepts to explain how global drug trafficking networks exploit weak institutions and poor oversight to operate in Liberia.
Referring to the recent seizure of cocaine valued at more than US$336 million and the destruction of 4.2 metric tons of narcotics, the senator said the operation demonstrates how international drug cartels take advantage of vulnerable systems while corrupt officials enable their activities.
Senator Konneh argued that some current and former government and security officials allegedly benefited from protecting drug networks, believing they would escape accountability. He stressed that corruption within enforcement institutions continues to undermine the country's anti-drug efforts.
While commending President Joseph Boakai for recent actions against drug trafficking, the senator said much more must be done to dismantle corruption and ensure that those facilitating the illegal trade are held accountable, regardless of their position.
He also cited research suggesting that enforcement alone often shifts trafficking routes rather than eliminating the drug trade, emphasizing that meaningful reforms must address the systemic incentives that allow corruption to flourish.
Konneh urged Liberians to treat the fight against drugs as a national priority rather than a political issue, describing it as a battle for the country's future and calling for collective commitment to defeating the menace.
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