Monrovia – The Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has praised the 5th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Cape Mount County for the conviction and sentencing of four drug dealers to 10 years in prison.
The four convicts—Liberians Abu S. Kamara, 42; Daniel David, 25; Tina Morris, 30; and Nigerian national Tony Okeye, 58—were separately arrested by the LDEA’s Grand Cape Mount County Detachment for possession, sale, distribution, and transportation of narcotic substances, including KUSH, heroin, and compressed marijuana (cannabis sativa).
Tina Morris was arrested on June 12, 2024, in Kinjor, Gola Konneh District, with one-and-a-half compressed plates of marijuana and 343 wraps of marijuana valued at L$55,860 (US$294). Abu Kamara and Daniel David were arrested on July 8 and 9, 2024, in the Lofa Bridge and Gold Camp communities with 43 and 277 wraps of KUSH, valued at L$329,650 (US$1,735). Tony Okeye was apprehended on July 29, 2024, in Weajue, Gola Konneh District, with two plates of marijuana and heroin, valued at L$58,500 (US$300).
According to the LDEA, the convicts violated sections 14.89 and 14.85 of the 2023 amended drug law, as well as sections 10.4 and 10.2 of Liberia’s penal code. They were tried at the Grand Cape Mount County Magisterial Court.
LDEA Officer-in-Charge (OiC), Christopher Peters, noted that the convictions, which occurred shortly after his appointment in June 2024, represent a significant victory in the fight against illicit drugs.
“We celebrate a win for the LDEA today, and we look forward to working with communities to rid our country of these dangerous drugs that are wreaking havoc on our youth,” Peters stated.
Peters urged the public to report any drug-related activities, including those involving LDEA officers.
In a related case, two LDEA officers—Agent Roland Hne, assigned to River Gee County, and Volunteer Agent Abel Cranshaw, assigned to Maryland County—were arrested in possession of 14.2 grams of KUSH, valued at L$53,960 (US$284), in Killepo Kanweiken, River Gee County. They are currently under investigation and, if found guilty, will be forwarded to court for trial.
Meanwhile, the LDEA has indefinitely suspended Volunteer Agents Abraham Goffa and Varney Jusu for misconduct during raids in Monrovia on September 17, 2024. The two men were found guilty of taking personal belongings from individuals during the raids. The LDEA’s Board of Internal Inquiry and Professional Standards (BIIPS) determined their guilt, and the stolen items were returned to their rightful owners. Goffa and Jusu have been ordered to return all LDEA property in their possession and cease all duties.
In another development, Volunteer Agent Faith N. Toe has received a written reprimand for violating road safety measures. A video circulated on social media on September 9, 2024, showed Toe riding a commercial motorcycle without a helmet, in violation of road safety rules enforced by the Liberia National Police (LNP). Following an investigation, Toe admitted her guilt and expressed remorse for her actions.
