By Matalay Kollie
In ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in Liberia, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Bong County Detachment has apprehended Nelson Stewart for illegal possession of a large quantity of Kush.
Stewart, 32, was taken into custody at the Sanoyea Checkpoint while traveling to Gbarpolu County.
The seized drugs are valued at approximately US$2,840, equivalent to L$530,600 in Liberian dollars.
Bong County LDEA Chief of Operations Hassan Dorley reported on September 16, 2024, that Stewart’s arrest is among the first significant actions since he assumed leadership in May.
Under Dorley’s oversight, over 10 drug traffickers have been prosecuted, with cases currently pending in the 9th Judicial Circuit Court.
Dorley emphasized the harmful effects of drug trafficking on youth and reaffirmed the LDEA’s commitment to eradicating the illegal drug trade in Bong County.
He also called on local residents to assist by providing valuable information to support these enforcement efforts.
In a statement from jail, Stewart claimed that the drugs were handed to him by an unnamed friend.
He has requested a pardon from the Liberian Government, asserting that he was unaware of the contents of the bag.
