Liberia jails ex-security deputy pending cocaine trial
Gerald Folley Smith and four others have been sent to Monrovia Central Prison over a $317 million seizure. The indictment names 18 people.
Monrovia — A former deputy director of Liberia's National Security Agency and four other people have been sent to Monrovia Central Prison to await trial over a cocaine seizure valued at about $317 million, The Liberian Investigator reports.
Gerald Folley Smith was committed to prison along with Christian L. Nyantee, Jammel V. Jallah, Cayce L. Nelson and Albenigo Janior, after a writ issued by Criminal Court "C". None of them has been tried or convicted.
The seizure
The case stems from a raid on 21 July at a compound on Cement Road, off the Robertsfield Highway. Officers found 3,971 plates of cocaine packed in 157 bags, valued at about $317 million.
Two foreign nationals were arrested at the time: a Serbian and a man holding Colombian and Spanish nationality.
The indictment
The 55-page indictment names 18 defendants, two more identified only by a single name, and "others to be identified". It contains 11 counts, including conspiracy, drug trafficking, money laundering and possession of weapons.
The case has been assigned to Criminal Assizes "A".
This report is based on reporting by The Liberian Investigator, published by AllAfrica.
