Ben TC Brooks
Pleebo Maryland ~ In a powerful show of community solidarity, hundreds of women took to the streets of Pleebo and Harper in Maryland County to lead a peaceful anti-drug march aimed at drawing national attention to the rising tide of drug abuse in southeastern Liberia.
Organized by Maryland Women against Illicit Drugs, the event was strongly supported by the Maryland Civil Society Organization, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency – LDEA, and student groups.
Demonstrators chanted anti-drug slogans, carried banners, and called on the national government to take urgent and coordinated action to stem the spread of narcotics in schools and communities.
The march culminated in a formal gathering at the Harper Administrative Building, where the women presented a petition demanding the creation of a county-level Anti-Drug Taskforce.
The taskforce, as proposed, would work in close collaboration with the LDEA to monitor drug-related activities, raise community awareness, and serve as local whistleblowers to identify and report illegal drug operations.
Reading the petition on behalf of the group, Annie Mongan, spokesperson for Maryland Women Against Illicit Drugs, stressed the destructive impact of drugs on youth and families.
Addressing the gathering, which included county officials and student leaders, Mongan delivered a passionate appeal:
“Honorable Superintendent, we are here today to raise the alarm about a crisis that is destroying our children and undermining the future of our county.
Drug abuse is no longer a distant issue it’s here, in our schools, our streets, and our homes. We urge you to take decisive action by establishing a community-driven drug taskforce that can help expose and dismantle these illicit networks.”
The event drew high-level attention, with the presence of three superintendents from the southeastern region Maryland County Superintendent Henry Cole, Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Alex Grant, and River Gee County Superintendent Mike Swengbe all of whom expressed solidarity with the women’s initiative and pledged joint efforts to combat drug abuse across county lines.
Superintendent Cole commended the marchers for their civic leadership and vowed to act swiftly on the petition’s recommendations.
“Your voices have been heard loud and clear,” said Cole. “This is a fight we must face together parents, students, local leaders, and government institutions. I am committed to working with all stakeholders to establish the Anti-Drug Taskforce and ensure it becomes a strong and functional body.”
Echoing Cole’s sentiments, Superintendents Grant and Swengbe emphasized the need for a regional approach to tackling the drug menace, citing the porous borders and cross-county trafficking routes that exacerbate the problem.
“This isn’t just a Maryland County problem it’s a Southeast Liberia problem,” noted Superintendent Grant. “We must combine our efforts, share intelligence, and support one another in addressing this threat.”
With this cross-county collaboration now in motion, the anti-drug campaign in Maryland County may serve as a model for grassroots-driven advocacy and regional cooperation in Liberia’s ongoing struggle against illicit drugs.
