Rita S. Williams, 38, has been sentenced to three years and six months at the Monrovia Central Prison after pleading guilty to drug trafficking charges stemming from one of the largest cocaine seizures in Liberia’s recent history.
The sentence was handed down by Criminal Court ‘C’ on Thursday after Williams admitted in open court to possessing 1.9 kilograms of high-concentration cocaine, a portion of a much larger 750-kilogram haul estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of U.S. dollars.
Arrest at Klay Checkpoint
Williams was arrested in June 2024 at the Klay checkpoint, located in Bomi County near the Sierra Leone border. Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) officers, acting on intelligence, intercepted her vehicle and discovered 750 kilograms of cocaine stashed in her luggage.
At the time of her arrest, Williams reportedly claimed to be an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a statement that is still under investigation by authorities.
Geez Liberia first reported the massive seizure following confirmation from LDEA officials:
“The Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) has arrested Rita Williams, who claims to be an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in connection with the possession of a substantial quantity of high-concentration cocaine. The arrest took place in Bomi County, where Williams was found with 750 kilograms of the illicit substance,” the Geez Liberia report stated.
“This is one of the largest drug busts in recent times, and it highlights our commitment to eradicating drug trafficking in our country,” an LDEA spokesperson added.
The outlet further noted that the arrest was part of a broader LDEA crackdown aimed at disrupting trafficking networks using Liberia as a transit corridor.
From Seizure to Sentencing
Though Williams was initially arrested with 750 kilograms of cocaine, court documents showed that only 1.9 kilograms were presented as evidence and subjected to forensic testing, hence the $100,000 value attached to the charges. Williams unexpectedly pled guilty to the offense during her court appearance, bypassing a full trial.
Judge Blamo Dixon, presiding over the matter, accepted her plea and issued the sentence in line with Liberia’s current drug laws, which classify cocaine trafficking as a non-bailable offense punishable by long prison terms.
LDEA Applauds Officers
LDEA Bomi Commander Jusu, who led the operation, commended his officers for what he called “a major breakthrough.” He linked the success to intelligence-led policing and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to President Joseph N. Boakai’s anti-narcotics agenda.
“Despite distractions from detractors, this seizure shows our resolve to confront drug trafficking head-on,” Commander Jusu said.
With one of the biggest cocaine seizures in Liberian history now tied to a conviction, the Williams case is being hailed as a turning point in the country’s drug enforcement efforts. However, many observers say this is just the beginning of what may be a long road to tackling the deeper structures of organized drug trafficking in West Africa.
