The Fourteenth Judicial Circuit Court for River Cess County, has sentenced a 55-year-old Nigerian national, Joe Okoh.
Okoh, according to the court, is sentenced to 10 years for drug-related offenses.
In his ruling, Judge D. Onesimus Banwon, stated that on December 13, 2025, at about 1:30 p.m., agents of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) assigned in River Cess County arrested the defendant in Solo Village, Yarnee District.
Okoh was apprehended with a consignment of multiple narcotic substances.
The arrest followed the execution of a search and seizure warrant on the defendant’s premises.
The warrant was obtained by the LDEA from the Cestos City Magisterial Court.
During the search, LDEA agents seized illicit substances from the defendant’s “chemist/mixing room,” including marijuana, Kush, and lawo.”
The estimated total street value was established at L$198,000.
Judge Banwon further explained that upon arraignment on Monday, February 16, 2026, defendant Okoh pleaded guilty to the crime of “unlicensed possession of controlled drugs and substances” as charged in the indictment.
The guilty plea left the Court with no alternative, but to adjudge Okoh guilty and sentenced him in keeping with chapter 16, section 16.5 of 1LCLR, Title II (Criminal Procedure Law).
The Court said, it took into serious consideration the harmful and devastating effects of illicit drug and substance abuse, particularly among the youthful population.
The Court: “As priests of justice, judges and magistrates; it cannot, should not, and will not allow the economic interests of individuals engaged in the illicit drug trade to endanger future generations.” Judge Banwon also noted that the larger society has a pivotal role to play in combating the menace of drug abuse. By Gabriel B. Sawah
/Courtesy: DCN