MONROVIA –The National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia, through the Ministry of Labour, has commenced prosecution of three major human trafficking cases during the February Term of Court in Liberia.
The cases are currently being heard at Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia, Montserrado County, the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Zwedru City, Grand Gedeh County and in Robertsport City, Grand Cape Mount County, and Criminal Court “A” – Montserrado County.
The case titled Republic of Liberia vs. Halimatu Daramy, Hareita Beaye, Grace H. Sesay, Hawa Kamara, and Famata Doe is ongoing at Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia.
The case involves fourteen (14) Liberian children who were intercepted by officers of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) in Red Light, Paynesville, while in the custody of five Liberian women.
The defendants are accused of allegedly attempting to traffic the children to Burkina Faso.
7th Judicial Circuit Court – Grand Gedeh County
In Grand Gedeh County, the case Republic of Liberia vs. Esther Asuaquo is currently before the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Zwedru.
Ms. Esther Asuaquo, a Nigerian national, is accused of trafficking three Nigerian female minors between the ages of 15 and 19 in 2025, under the pretense of bringing them to Liberia to work in a beauty salon.
Instead, she allegedly transported the minors to an illicit gold mining site where they were coerced into prostitution for her financial benefit.
Reports indicate that the defendant provided the minors with condoms nightly and allegedly threatened them when they resisted her directives.
At one point, she reportedly accused the minors of theft and reported them to the police; however, following investigation and the minors’ statements, authorities arrested and charged Ms. Asuaquo with human trafficking.
Grand Cape Mount County
In Grand Cape Mount County, the case involving Alieu Bafalie vs. Bendu Kamara is also before the court.
Mrs. Bendu Kamara is accused of recruiting and transporting four young persons from Cape Mount County to the Republic of Guinea in May 2025, under the false promise of overseas travel for better living and employment opportunities.
She has been charged with recruitment, transportation, transfer, harboring, fraud, and deception in violation of Liberia’s anti-human trafficking laws.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the National Anti-Human Trafficking Taskforce of Liberia and Minister of Labour, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr., has
strongly condemned the continued reports of human trafficking by individuals and organized criminal networks across the country.
Minister Kruah warned that the Government of Liberia, through the Taskforce, will not tolerate the illicit recruitment and transportation of innocent citizens under the guise of offering greener pastures abroad.
He described human trafficking as a heinous crime against humanity, condemned both locally and internationally, and emphasized that anyone caught engaging in such acts will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
The Minister made these remarks on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 when the three trafficked Nigerian minors met with him at his office at the Ministry of Labour in Congo Town, outside Monrovia.
