The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) is celebrating a significant victory in the fight against drug-related crime following the conviction and sentencing of four dealers by the Grand Cape Mount County Fifth Judicial Circuit Court.
The individuals, three Liberian nationals and one Nigerian national, each received a ten-year prison sentence for their involvement in the trafficking of narcotics, including heroin and cannabis.
The convicts include Abu S. Kamara, 42, Daniel David, 25, Tina Morris, 30, and Tony Okeye, 58. Their arrests were made by the LDEA’s Grand Cape Mount County Detachment over the past year as part of a crackdown on drug possession, distribution, and transportation.
Tina Morris was first apprehended on June 12, 2024, in the Gola Konneh District, where she was found with 343 wraps of marijuana, valued at approximately US$294.
Abu Kamara and Daniel David were arrested days later, on July 8 and 9, for possessing 43 and 277 wraps of fentanyl, locally referred to as “KUSH,” valued at around US$1,735.
Finally, Tony Okeye was captured on July 29, also in Gola Konneh, with two plates of cannabis and a substance believed to be heroin valued at about US$300.
According to the LDEA’s charge sheet, these individuals violated several sections of Liberia’s 2023 amended drug law, leading to their prosecution in the Grand Cape Mount County Magisterial Court.
LDEA Officer-in-Charge (OiC) Christopher Peters commended the court’s decision, stating, “Today we celebrate a little win for the agency… we are now moving forward to rally communities to jointly work together with our team to rid the country of these dangerous drugs that are causing havoc for our young people.”
The LDEA has also emphasized its commitment to transparency and integrity within its ranks, recently taking action against two of its own officers found in possession of narcotics.
Agent Roland Hne and Volunteer Agent Abel Cranshaw are currently under investigation for their alleged involvement in drug possession.
In a broader commitment to uphold standards, the LDEA has suspended two volunteer agents for misconduct during a raid, and has issued a reprimand to another for failing to follow safety protocols.
The agency continues to urge citizens to report drug-related activities, including any suspicious behavior involving its personnel, as part of its dedication to combatting the drug crisis in Liberia.