The Fifth Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Cape Mount County has sentenced Nigerian national John Chimezie Mba to 24 years in prison for trafficking 66 tubes of cocaine into Liberia.
Judge Victoria Worlobah Duncan handed down the sentence on Thursday, October 8, 2026, during the Criminal Assizes Division of the court.
Mba, who lives in Sierra Leone, was arrested at the Bo Waterside Port of Entry while entering Liberia. According to court records, officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency became suspicious of him and took him to their office for questioning.
While in custody, Mba complained of stomach pain and asked to use the toilet. The court records say he then excreted 66 tubes containing cocaine.
The drugs were valued at US$39,204, equivalent to LRD$7,056,720, according to the court.
Mba Pleads Guilty
Mba pleaded guilty to three charges: unlicensed possession of controlled drugs and substances under Section 14.103; transportation and sale of controlled drugs and substances under Section 14.107; and illicit trafficking of controlled drugs and substances under Section 14.111 of the 2014 Controlled Drugs and Substances Law.
The court said cocaine is listed as a narcotic drug under Schedule I, Table 1 of the law.
Before imposing the sentence, Judge Duncan said she considered Mba’s guilty plea, cooperation and remorse.
She also said the offenses were serious because of the danger they pose to public health and safety.
“The Court considers these offenses as grave offenses for their serious impact on Public Health and Safety and the need for deterrence in drug-related crimes,” Judge Duncan said.
The judge said Mba’s admission of wrongdoing and cooperation with the court were reasons for showing some leniency.
The court accepted his guilty plea after finding that he entered it voluntarily, knowingly and with an understanding of the consequences. The judge cited Section 3.3 of the Criminal Procedure Law and the Supreme Court’s 2024 decision in Republic of Liberia v. Folley Kallie.
24 Years in Prison
Judge Duncan sentenced Mba to 10 years for unlicensed possession of controlled drugs and substances, seven years for transportation and sale of controlled drugs and substances, and another seven years for illicit trafficking.
The court ordered the sentences to be served consecutively, bringing the total prison term to 24 years. The sentence does not allow for parole or suspension.
Because Mba is a foreign national, the court also ordered that he be deported to Nigeria after serving his sentence.
Judge Duncan relied on Section 14.117 of the Penal Law in issuing the deportation order and instructed the Ministry of Justice to work with the Liberia Immigration Service to carry it out.
The Clerk of Court was ordered to record the judgment and notify the Ministry of Justice.
The case adds to the drug prosecutions arising from the Bo Waterside border, a major crossing point between Liberia and Sierra Leone.
