Published: August 22, 2025
MONROVIA — Liberia’s ban on shisha is already facing strong opposition, with former House Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa warning that it could push the trade into a black market. Liberia Revenue Authority’s manager for customs compliance and enforcement, Atty. Robert H. Pyne Jr., questions what will happen to importers who legally paid duties but now have warehouses filled with unsellable stock.
The Ministry of Health on Thursday announced a nationwide moratorium on the sale and distribution of tramadol and shisha, citing a “Liberia’s drug epidemic.” Tramadol, officials said, will now be restricted to hospital use under professional supervision, while shisha is outlawed entirely — from nightclubs and bars to private homes.
Health authorities described the measure as a decisive step to combat drug abuse among Liberian youth. But critics argue the sweeping ban risks fueling underground trade.
Koffa Warns of Black Market
Koffa, who now represents Grand Kru County in the Legislature, said the ban could mirror failed prohibition policies in the United States.
“The proposed shisha ban in Liberia is a well-intentioned policy, but we must be wise in our approach,” Koffa said. “Prohibition in the U.S. failed because it created a black market, empowering criminals rather than solving a problem. A ban on a product with clear demand won’t work.”
He argued that ordinary citizens risk being criminalized while entrenched trafficking networks remain untouched. “Instead of going after users, we must go after the big fish — the importers and kingpins who profit from this trade. Let’s hit them where it hurts,” Koffa said.
Pyne Raises Revenue Concerns
While Koffa warned of illicit markets, Pyne, the LRA’s commissioner for customs, focused on the financial burden for businesses that followed the law.
“How does the government intend to address the current stock of shisha already imported prior to this announcement?” he asked in a widely shared post. “Importers had legitimately brought in these goods and paid the required customs duties before the measure was introduced. Is the government prepared to grant tax credits to importers for their existing inventories?”
His comments spotlight a looming dilemma for revenue authorities: how to enforce the ban without punishing importers who complied with existing laws.
Lessons From Abroad
Similar bans abroad have often collapsed under the weight of illicit trade and economic losses. In Bhutan, a 2004 tobacco ban fueled smuggling until restrictions were eased. South Africa’s COVID-19 tobacco ban cost billions in lost revenue and triggered a surge in illegal sales. Massachusetts saw nearly $150 million vanish in a single year after a flavored tobacco ban pushed buyers underground. Mali’s 2024 shisha ban was met with skepticism from the start, while in Pakistan, shisha bars continue to operate illegally despite repeated government crackdowns.
Critics say Liberia risks repeating these mistakes unless it pairs prohibition with strong enforcement and measures to cushion businesses.
Health Ministry Stands Firm
The Ministry of Health defended its action, calling it a “non-negotiable step to protect national stability.”
“Shisha, often perceived as harmless, contains dangerously high levels of nicotine, placing Liberia’s youth at extreme risk of cancer, heart disease, and lifelong addiction,” the ministry said in a statement. “The abuse of these substances is destroying families, destabilizing communities, and threatening the future of our young people.”
Officials also described tramadol as “the most widely abused drug in Liberia” and insisted the crackdown is necessary to save lives.
Law enforcement and health inspectors were ordered to begin raids on bars, clubs, and private establishments to seize shisha products. Offenders face arrest, confiscation of goods, and loss of business licenses.
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