…as Liberian authorities commit to fight the ruin of drugs
By Gloria Ikibah
An abandoned cemetery in the heart of Monrovia, the capital of Liberia has become home to hundreds of drug users, including children and pregnant women. What was once the Central Street Cemetery is now a place of crumbling buildings, foul odors, and desperate cries for help. 
Members of the ECOWAS Parliament had on Tuesday, August 5, visited the site under heavy rain as part of a regional campaign to raise awareness about drug abuse. During their visit, a man, identified only as A.B tried to approach one of the delegates but was stopped by police. Voices around him echoed, “We are hungry, and we need medical care.”
A similar scene plays out in King Gray, another part of Monrovia where drug addicts live among graves and trash, isolated from the rest of society.
In response to the growing crisis, the Liberian authorities have ramped up their fight against drug trafficking. And according to the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency, over 9,600 kilograms of various drugs were seized between June 2024 and June 2025. The street value of the drugs is estimated at nearly $5 million.
To support recovery efforts, a large rehabilitation center has opened at Bentol Youth Camp, about 40 kilometers from the capital. It can host up to 1,500 people. Nearby, a neuropsychiatric hospital is also being built on a large plot of land.
In addition to government efforts, one private rehabilitation center on the outskirts of Monrovia has been quietly operating for over 30 years. It provides medical treatment and support for recovering addicts seeking a new start.
The ECOWAS delegation’s tour included visits to these facilities, aimed at understanding the scale of the problem and encouraging further action to help those affected by drug abuse.
