“No Bail, No Deals, No Escape”: EPS Director Calls Liberia’s Harsh Anti-Drug Law A “Game Changer” As Government Targets Trafficking Kingpins
BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
MONROVIA, Liberia – The Director of the Executive Protection Service [EPS] has hailed Liberia’s tough anti-narcotics statute as a game changer, saying its non-bailable provision is designed to close loopholes and ensure suspected drug traffickers remain behind bars until trial.
The statement comes amid the Boakai administration’s sweeping crackdown on narcotics, following seizures worth over US$336 million and the dismissal of senior officials linked to trafficking.
“You Sit in Jail Until Your Trial”
In a social Media Post Friday, the EPS Director praised the Liberian Legislature for passing what he described as one of the world’s strictest drug laws.
“This is a game changer,” he wrote. “Liberia has one of the most stringent drug laws in the world.
The offense is non-bailable. You sit in jail until your trial.
When charged with drug trafficking, you will not be able to post some bogus or defective bail and walk out.”
“Kudos to our legislators for their foresight and resolve in tackling this menace,” he added.
Using The Law To Catch “The Big Fish” the Director said the law gives prosecutors and investigators leverage to dismantle trafficking networks by pressuring low-level actors to cooperate.
“Stringent drug laws are important tools used by prosecutors and investigators to flip the little fish in order to get the big fish in the food chain,” he stated.
Legal analysts say the non-bailable clause aims to prevent 3 key problems that have plagued past cases: evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and suspects fleeing jurisdiction while awaiting trial.
The EPS Director’s remarks align with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s recent directive to dismiss and prosecute officials across the RIA, LDEA, NSA, and Liberia National Police implicated in major cocaine seizures.
The Executive Mansion has declared a “zero tolerance” policy, vowing to use every legal instrument to “dismantle criminal networks and safeguard Liberia’s international reputation.”
International partners including the US DEA have also increased support for Liberia’s drug enforcement efforts, providing training and intelligence assistance.
While security officials defend the law as necessary given the scale of trafficking, human rights advocates have raised concerns about prolonged pre-trial detention and due process.
Proponents argue that Liberia’s geographic position as a transit point makes tough measures unavoidable.
Critics say enforcement must be paired with judicial reform to avoid abuse.
The EPS Director maintained that without strict penalties, Liberia risks becoming a safe haven for traffickers.
“This law tells traffickers one thing: in Liberia, you will face the full weight of the law, and you will not buy your way out,” he concluded.