The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has commended the 5th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia, for the conviction and sentencing of four drug dealers.
The court sentenced Abu S. Kamara, 42, Daniel David, 25, Tina Morris, 30, all Liberian nationals, and Tony Okeye, 58, a Nigerian national, to 10 years imprisonment for drug-related crimes.
The convicts were arrested and charged by the LDEA’s Grand Cape Mount County Detachment for possession, sale, distribution, and transportation of narcotics, including KUSH, heroin, and compressed marijuana (cannabis sativa).
Tina Morris, was arrested in Kinjor, Gola Konneh District, on June 12, 2024, with one and a half-compressed plates of marijuana and 343 wraps of marijuana valued at L$55,860 (US$294).
Abu and David were arrested in the Lofa Bridge and Gold Camp communities on July 8 and 9, 2024, with 43 and 277 wraps of KUSH (fentanyl), valued at L$329,650 (US$1,735). Tony Okeye was arrested on July 29, 2024, in Weajue, Gola Konneh District, with two plates of marijuana and a substance believed to be heroin, valued at L$58,500 (US$300).
According to the LDEA’s charge sheet, the convicts violated sections 14.89 and 14.85 of the 2023 amended drug law and sections 10.4 and 10.2 of Liberia’s Penal Code. They were subsequently placed on trial and convicted at the Grand Cape Mount County’s Magisterial Court.
Christopher Peters, the Officer-in-Charge (OiC) of the LDEA, who assumed his role in June 2024, hailed the convictions, stating, “Today, we celebrate a small win for the LDEA. We are moving forward to rally communities to work together with our team to rid the country of dangerous drugs that are harming our young people.”
He urged the public to report drug-related activities, even if they involve LDEA personnel.
In line with this, Peters disclosed the recent arrests of two LDEA officers, Agent Roland Hne from River Gee County and Volunteer Agent Abel Cranshaw from Maryland County, who were found in possession of 14.2 grams of KUSH valued at L$53,960 (US$284) in Killepo Kanweiken, River Gee County. Both officers are under investigation, and if found guilty, they will face trial.
Additionally, the LDEA has indefinitely suspended two volunteer agents, Abraham Goffa and Varney Jusu, in line with the agency’s Code of Conduct. On September 17, 2024, during raids in Monrovia, the two were accused of stealing personal belongings.
After an investigation by the agency’s Board of Internal Inquiry and Professional Standards (BIIPS), both men were found liable.
The stolen items have been returned to their rightful owners, and the agents have been ordered to surrender all LDEA’s property in their possession and cease all activities with the entity.
In a related incident, the LDEA has issued a written reprimand to volunteer agent Faith N. Toe for failing to adhere to road safety measures.
On September 9, 2024, a video clip circulated on social media showed her riding a commercial motorcycle without a helmet, violating road safety regulations enforced by the Liberia National Police (LNP).
Toe admitted her misconduct during an investigation by BIIPS and expressed remorse.
