Monrovia – Barely a year after their arrest, Uache Uche – a Nigerian national and his fiancée finally appeared at the Criminal Court “C” at the Temple of Justice Tuesday for trial for their alleged drug importation.
Report by Kennedy L. Yangian – [email protected]
Defendant Ude and fiancée Comfort Wleh, a Liberian, and another Nigerian, Charles Akaolisa, also faced charges of unlicensed sale, administration, dispensation, delivery and transportation of controlled drugs substances.
Comfort Wleh, a baby mothe,r was seen with her baby on her lap while the two other defendants sat beside her at the far left corner of the court at the start of their trial on Tuesday.
With the multiples charges levied against the three defendants by the Grand Jury of Montserrado County, the defendants pleaded not guilty when the court officer read the indictment to them thereby joining issue with state lawyers to prove the case against them.
The indictment revealed that upon intelligence, a package air way bill #5506690814 was reported to have been shipped from Kampala, Uganda to Liberia via DHL allegedly in the name of Comfort Wleh which contained dangerous drugs.
According to the indictment, when the package arrived at the DHL office in Monrovia officers of the Drug Enforcement Authority intercepted defendant Wleh at the DHL office where she had gone to pick up the package on June 30, 2015.
The indictment indicated that upon her arrival at the DHL office she was informed on phone that DEA officers were at the office to arrest her.
She fled the scene and left behind a lady’s handbag containing her two ID cards.
She was, however, arrested on August 8, 2015 at Jamaica Road on the Bushrod Island.
“The package that came via DHL in the name of defendant Comfort Wleh contained assorted hair, hair accessories and 484.4 grams of heroin concealed in 28 packs of UV whitening cream valued at US$14,532.00 or its equivalent of L$1,220,688.00,” the indictment indicated.
Defendant Charles Akoalisa a Nigerian national living in the Liberia, according to the indictment, with criminal intent to import drugs in Liberia advised defendant Uache Ude to send the package in his fiancée’s Comfort Wleh’s name.
Two other defendants identified and also named in the indictment as Gabriel Doe and Andrew Neh working with the DHL decided to aid defendant Wleh in clearing up the package when they demanded US$1,000 from her to get out of DHL’s custody, the indictment revealed.
The two DHL employees were not in court on Tuesday when the case started.
However, the case was adjourned by presiding Judge Yarmie Gbeisay to continue on Monday, November 28, 2016.
According to the indictment, the alleged crimes are contrary to Chapter 14, sections 14.103 of the Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2014 of the New Penal Law of Liberia.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
