Acting Director of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Fitzgerald Biago, has acknowledged that Liberia remains deeply affected by drug abuse and trafficking, stating emphatically that he does not yet deserve praise for any progress in the fight.
Speaking during a community dialogue held at the Center for Exchange and Intellectual Outreach (CEIO) on Carey Street in Monrovia, Biago stressed the ongoing challenges in curbing drug-related activities across the country.
“I have not done anything. No Liberian should praise me at this point,” Biago said frankly. “This place is still infested with drugs.”
His comments come amid growing public concern over the visible rise in drug use, especially among young people in urban centers.
The drug known locally as “kus” has been particularly destructive, fueling crime and addiction.
Biago emphasized that safety and security must begin at the community level, pointing out that the success of the LDEA depends heavily on citizen cooperation.
“I want to reach a place where my children will leave their clothes outside and wake up in the morning and still see it there,” he added. “Then I know that I am doing something.”
He described the current drug situation as a national emergency that requires more than government intervention. “This is why I am coming back to the community to help me,” he appealed.
The LDEA chief said the agency is overwhelmed by the scale of drug trafficking networks and lacks sufficient logistical and financial support to match the crisis.
“We are doing our best with what we have, but it is not enough,” Biago said. “We need a united front, community leaders, parents, educators, and young people all playing a role.”
He also criticized the glorification of individuals in leadership before results are visible, warning that premature praise could lead to complacency.
“I don’t want anyone to clap for me until we see real change in our streets, in our schools, and in our homes,” Biago insisted.
He called for more preventive education and rehabilitation programs to target at-risk youth before they fall into addiction or criminality.
Participants at the CEIO event praised Biago’s honesty and encouraged stronger partnerships between communities and security agencies.
The LDEA has recently launched several operations to arrest suspected drug dealers, but Biago said enforcement alone cannot solve the problem.
The Acting LDEA Boss’s message is clear: the war on drugs is far from over, and victory will require collective effort.
