MONROVIA: The arrest of a man, identified only as George Obi, alias, ‘Japan’ a suspected drug dealer, by the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), has reignited public debates over illicit activities and the nation’s drug trade.
Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge, Blamo Nelson, is set to decide this week whether the accused, believed to be a wealthy figure in Liberia’s purported ‘underground drugs market,’ violated the country’s laws or not.
Obi faces charges related to a significant consignment of illegal drugs seized during the leadership of now suspended LDEA boss, Col. Abraham Kromah.
Obi, believed to be a Nigerian national, was allegedly arrested with huge consignment of illicit drugs with a street value of thousands in both United Sates Dollars and Liberian currency.
The Obi trial is focused on whether he (Obi) violated the Liberia’s narcotics laws by allegedly refusing to cooperate with LDEA officers at the time of his capture. He faces potentially lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
The case appears to be more complex as Obi fights to apparently discredit the LDEA’s actions, accusing the agency of seizing US$350,000 from him during the arrest.
LDEA sources have strongly denied seizing US$350,000 from Obi during the arrest, describing the allegations as “false and misleading.” A verdict in the high-profiled case is expected soon.
“Social media has been flooded with claims surrounding this case, including rumors aimed at preventing the reinstatement” of LDEA’s former Chief, Col. AB Kromah, by President Joseph Boakai.”
Attempts to reach Obi’s legal counsel for comment were unsuccessful, and Mr. Kromah did not return phone calls, seeking his comment.
One keen observer said, the suspended LDEA Boss could not comment on the matter which is currently before the court for its adjudication.
Obi’s arrest earlier this year by the AB Kromah led LDEA unfolded in front of media cameras, court officers, and local residents, further intensifying public interest.
His arrest was said to be a part of a broader crackdown by state security forces following the discovery of narcotic drugs, worth US$100 million, in a frozen food container in Topoe Village, Japan Freeway.
The incident has fueled speculations that Liberia is fast becoming a major transit hub for international narcotics smuggling.
However, other reports had it that local drug use is also on the rise, with dangerous substances such as marijuana, heroin, “kush,” and cocaine ravaging Liberia’s youthful population, contributing to the rapid spread of informal drug dens in many communities across the nation.
In response to the escalating drug crisis, Liberia’s Legislature amended the 2014 Drug and Substance Act in late 2022, making certain drug-related offenses non-bailable.
Under the new law, which was signed by former President George Weah in 2023, individuals involved in large-scale of drug importation, distribution, or production are denied bail, if apprehended.
However, end users of narcotics retain the right to bail, even if caught in the act.
Despite these reforms, critics argue that the law has not been adequately enforced, leaving thousands of young people vulnerable to the destructive impact of illicit drugs in Liberia.
Obi’s trial has taken several twists. Court records revealed that authorities discovered a drug manufacturing facility at his residence, adding to the seriousness of the charges against him.
During the proceedings, Obi reiterated his claim that LDEA officers took US$350,000 from him during the raid—a claim the LDEA suspended boss, Kromah, swiftly dismissed.
“This accusation is a blatant attempt to derail the prosecution’s case,” Kromah said in a statement.
“It’s a strategy designed to divert attention from the facts, which we believe will lead to the conviction of the accused,” he added.