George Ikpehehukwu, popularly known as Original Japan, will be spending the next 20 years in prison after Criminal Court C handed down a tough sentence for his involvement in the illegal drug trade.
This verdict comes after the court found him and three others guilty of unlawful maintenance and sale of controlled drugs. Their arrest, which took place during the tenure of former Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) boss Ab Kromah, was a major bust. Authorities seized a staggering amount of narcotics, including cocaine, heroin, and tramadol, worth an estimated Five Million Liberian Dollars (US$36,235).
Criminal Court C’s Judge Blamo Dixon, who presided over the case, ruled that the evidence presented clearly linked Original Japan, along with his co-defendants Peter Mamah, Ndubuisi Okonkwo, and Bridgestone Harris, to the drug operation, warranting their conviction. While Original Japan was handed a 20-year prison term, Mamah, Okonkwo, and Harris received five-year sentences each.
As part of the legal process, Judge Dixon has ordered the Clerk of Court to request a pre-sentencing investigation from the Ministry of Justice’s Probation Services Department. This will determine whether the convicted individuals are first-time offenders or repeat criminals.
Interestingly, not everyone arrested in connection with the case was found guilty. Judge Dixon ruled that the prosecution failed to establish a direct link between several of the accused and the alleged drug crimes. He further noted that LDEA investigators had wrongfully charged them, as the evidence showed they were merely visitors to the compound and had no involvement in drug-related activities.
Meanwhile, defense lawyers for Original Japan and his co-defendants have already appealed to the Supreme Court of Liberia, seeking to overturn the conviction.
For many, this sentencing is a wake-up call. Liberia has been battling the growing influence of drugs in communities, with young people falling victim to addiction and criminal networks thriving off the trade. While Original Japan‘s conviction signals a crackdown on high-profile offenders, the bigger question remains: Will this be enough to curb the drug crisis, or is this just one piece of a much larger problem?
