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South African Woman Arrested With US$150K Narcotic Drugs At Liberia’s RIA

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PHOTO: Marcia Thembeka from South Africa

By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahomo@gmail.com

A South African woman, age 39 identified as Marcia Thembeka was has been arrested at the Roberts International Airport by the Liberia National Police for allegedly trying to smuggle into the country a huge quantity of narcotic drugs.

Liberia National Police Deputy Inspector General for Operations, Melvin Sackor said the consignment of the illicit drugs was seized last Thursday, May 20, 2021 said to be cocaine or heroin.

The drug seized is said to be four kilograms and it is estimated to be US$150,000.00.

The suspected South African drug Trafficker was on board Kenya Airway and landed at 6pm at the RIA.

Police Deputy IG, Melvin Sackor told a news conference that he had received intelligence from his source that a lady was on board the plane with a certain amount of drug and he led a team of police officers at airport to await the alleged suspect from 3pm to 7pm, which was well coordinated by the joint security at the airport.

Colonel Sackor added that when and his officers reached at the Airport, he informed the Liberia Immigration Service about the unfolding situation where all of them cooperated professionally.

 LNP Deputy IG Melvin Sackor

After she left the plane, the suspected drug trafficker did her COVID-19 test where she was located and escorted to immigration office after she was possessed and through the custom office and she was clear.

Police operations chief further told journalists that when the alleged suspect left the plane, he took possession of her traveling documents (Visa on arrival) and she was taken to the police headquarters for further investigation.

While, in the process of the investigation, Deputy Police IG Sackor said, a Nigerian national who lives in Liberia identified as Camilus A. Okpald, was the contacted person who could receive the drugs from the suspect and thereafter received her pay and return on Sunday May 23, 2021.

Accordingly, the Nigerian national was posted at the Total gas station located near the RIA airport to receive the illicit drugs.

The senior Police official disclosed that the suspect had her clothes in the suitcase. When she was asked to remove her clothes in the presence of other female officers, the suitcase still remained heavy, prompting suspicion. Then she was again asked whether she still had additional items in the suitcase but she said no.

Deputy Police IG Sackor revealed that was what normally the drug traffickers can do. They removed the inner part of their suitcase at the back and put the drugs at the bottom and close the back so that narcotic substance can’t be detected by any means, even if they go through Customs.

Mr. Sackor explained that during the search, he used his knife and put a hole i the suit case, where he observed a powder on the knife which showed that drug was in it.

However, the alleged suspect told police Investigators that the brother the Nigerian national who was arrested lives in South Africa and contacted her to bring it to his brother, Okpald in Liberia.

The South African woman suspect had traveled to Brizal, India and Liberia where she been trafficking drugs to those countries by using the same means used in Liberia.

She was expected to leave Liberia on Sunday May 23, 2021, if the illicit drugs deal could have been successful. But she is now expected to be turned over to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) for  prosecution.

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