Liberia: Konneh Warns of Drug Trafficking Threat, Cites Fugitive’s Reported Presence in Sierra Leone

MONROVIA — Senator Amara Konneh has warned that Liberia’s porous borders, rising drug abuse and youth unemployment could expose the country to increased drug trafficking, citing reports that wanted Dutch drug trafficker Jos Leijdekkers is hiding in neighboring Sierra Leone.

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By Obediah Johnson

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Konneh, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts and Audit, raised the concern during a Senate session on Tuesday, October 20, urging the government to strengthen border security and intensify efforts to combat drug trafficking.

Reports by The Guardian, citing Dutch prosecutors, indicate that Leijdekkers has been in Sierra Leone since December 2022. The reports gained attention after footage published by Dutch media appeared to show him attending a New Year’s Day church service near members of Sierra Leone’s First Family.

Konneh warned that Liberia’s proximity to Sierra Leone, particularly in Gbarpolu County, makes stronger border controls essential.

“My county, Gbarpolu, is vulnerable. Madam Pro Tempore, Bassa is vulnerable, colleagues; all of our counties are vulnerable. But my county is vulnerable most because we border with Sierra Leone,” he said.

The senator also warned that Liberia was shifting from a transit point for illicit drugs to an increasingly significant consumer market.

Citing a 2025 report by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Konneh said drug seizures had increased by approximately 300%, which he said raised concerns about the volume of illicit substances entering the country.

He linked the problem to unemployment among young people, arguing that limited economic opportunities could push vulnerable youths into the drug trade.

“Unemployment among our young people is 70%, according to our official statistics. A young man finishes high school in Gbarma and has no job, so he is forced to sell kush for US$2,” Konneh said.

He also cited a report from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center, claiming that about 60% of admissions involving people aged 18 to 35 were drug-related. The figures were not independently verified in his remarks.

Konneh said the growing availability of kush, marijuana and other illicit substances was worsening challenges in communities already struggling with poor roads and limited access to healthcare and other essential services.

He called for increased budgetary support for drug investigations and prosecutions, alongside the establishment of more rehabilitation centers and support for programs that help disadvantaged youths recover and reintegrate into society.

The senator urged his colleagues to exercise their oversight responsibilities by holding hearings and pursuing practical measures to address drug trafficking and substance abuse.

“The next security threat in this country is not about fighting from the borders to Monrovia anymore for this one Mansion,” he said, warning lawmakers against remaining silent on the issue for fear of being accused of pursuing presidential ambitions.

Konneh called for a coordinated national response to protect Liberia’s borders, strengthen law enforcement and prevent more young people from falling into drug addiction.

However, his remarks did not establish any direct operational link between Leijdekkers’ reported presence in Sierra Leone and drug trafficking networks in Liberia.