Liberia: LDEA Officer Moses Jallah Charged With Drug Trafficking

• Moses Jallah, a former deputy commander for the Liberian Drug Enforcement Agency, faces eight charges, including illicit drug trafficking, for allegedly accepting a US$5,000 bribe.
• The payment from George Harris was reportedly intended to facilitate the swap or return of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine, valued at over US$19 million, seized at Roberts International Airport.
• Jallah denies wrongdoing, claiming he reported a prior US$100,000 offer from Harris to his commander and acted under instructions.
• Prosecutors contend Jallah had prior suspicious information about Harris but failed to arrest him or immediately report their encounter.
• The case is being prosecuted under Liberia's Penal Law and the recently enacted 2023 drug law, with Jallah forwarded to the Monrovia City Court.

The core of the state's amended case against Jallah centers on allegations that he accepted US$5,000 to facilitate the substitution or return of cocaine already in government custody, elevating the charges to illicit drug trafficking.

Moses Jallah, a former deputy commander for the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) at Roberts International Airport, is facing serious charges, including illicit drug trafficking, following allegations that he accepted a US$5,000 payment to facilitate the exchange of cocaine already seized by the state. This accusation significantly escalates the case against Jallah, moving it beyond lesser offenses to direct involvement in drug trafficking.

The amended charge sheet, resulting from a joint investigation by the LDEA and the Liberia National Police, outlines eight specific counts against Jallah. These include criminal facilitation, criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation, illicit drug trafficking, bribery, hindering law enforcement, obstruction of government functions, and tampering with a criminal investigation. The charges are brought under both Liberia's Penal Law and the recently enacted 2023 drug law, underscoring the gravity of the alleged offenses. Jallah was subsequently forwarded to the Monrovia City Court on Wednesday.

The core of the state's amended case against Jallah centers on allegations that he accepted US$5,000 to facilitate the substitution or return of cocaine already in government custody, elevating the charges to illicit drug trafficking. This payment, according to investigators, came from George Harris, also known as Leroy Harris, who owns the Private Bar. Harris reportedly told investigators that he handed the cash to Jallah in his office on the evening of June 7, mere hours after the initial drug seizure, specifically to enable the swap of the confiscated narcotics. Harris himself has not been convicted and is also currently before the Monrovia City Court.

The initial seizure that forms the backdrop of these charges occurred on June 7 at Roberts International Airport, involving 198 processed plates of suspected cocaine. Investigators estimated the street value of this consignment to be in excess of US$19 million. The drugs were found within six boxes booked for London on Brussels Airlines, which had been declared as 'lappas and Maggi cubes.' While the declared weight was approximately 200 kilograms, handlers discovered the actual weight to be 237.6 kilograms, with screening revealing a white powder in one of the boxes.

Jallah, who was arrested on July 29, offers a different narrative regarding his interactions with Harris. He claims he went to the Private Bar to follow up on information Harris had provided, specifically that Harris informed him the drugs at the cargo facility represented 20% of his share, with another individual controlling the remainder. Jallah asserts he subsequently left and relayed this information to his superior, maintaining that he acted throughout on his commander's instructions and reported any offers made to him. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court.

Prior to the meeting where the US$5,000 was allegedly exchanged, both the charge sheet and Jallah's own statement confirm that Harris contacted Jallah via WhatsApp while he was at the airport. During this call, Harris reportedly instructed Jallah to halt the inspection, promising US$100,000 if the shipment was allowed to depart. Jallah states he immediately informed his commander, Clarence Clarke, who allegedly responded that Harris had made him the same offer. The charge sheet corroborates that Harris indeed contacted both Jallah and Clarke, though it does not specify whether Clarke has been charged, cleared, or even interviewed in connection with the case.

Prosecutors contend that Jallah possessed sufficient information to act decisively but failed to do so. They allege that Harris had previously informed Jallah about an earlier consignment expected through the Freeport, disguised as onions and candies. Furthermore, investigators claim Jallah had already associated Harris with an individual identified as Michael Browne, a connection that had previously aroused his suspicion. Despite this prior knowledge, prosecutors argue that Jallah chose to meet Harris instead of arresting him and did not immediately report the encounter, forming a key part of the government's case against him.

The charges against Jallah are particularly significant given the recent enactment of Liberia's 2023 drug law, which aims to strengthen the country's efforts against illicit narcotics. The specific allegation of attempting to tamper with seized evidence by facilitating a swap elevates the case to a serious trafficking offense under this new legal framework. A notable discrepancy in the charge sheet lists Jallah's age as 32, while also stating his date of birth as September 5, 1975, which would make him 50 years old.

Source: Original reporting via Liberian Investigator