Beyond Punishment: Rethinking Liberia’s Drug Control Strategy Against Transnational Organized Crime

This study examines the effectiveness and limitations of Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023 in addressing transnational drug trafficking and organized crime. Although the legislation introduced stricter penalties to enhance deterrence, Liberia continues to experience significant drug-related challenges, including major cocaine seizures and the proliferation of synthetic drugs such as kush and tramadol. Guided by Deterrence Theory, State Capacity Theory, and Routine Activity Theory, the study evaluates whether a punishment-centered legal framework is sufficient to counter increasingly sophisticated trafficking networks. A qualitative case study design was employed, drawing on secondary data from legislative documents, government reports, international agency publications, and peer-reviewed literature. The data were analyzed using thematic content analysis to identify recurring patterns in enforcement effectiveness, institutional capacity, governance constraints, and trafficking dynamics. The findings indicate that while the 2023 Act has strengthened Liberia’s legal framework and increased punitive measures, its effectiveness is constrained by limited institutional capacity, porous borders, corruption vulnerabilities, and the adaptive strategies of transnational criminal organizations. The study concludes that sustainable drug control requires a comprehensive strategy combining stronger institutions, intelligence-led policing, regional and international cooperation, and targeted socioeconomic interventions alongside legal deterrence.

Keywords: Controlled Drugs and Substances Act 2023; drug trafficking; Liberia; state capacity; transnational organized crime.