5 Women Jailed 20 Years for Child Trafficking in Liberia

Monrovia, Liberia: Five women have been sentenced to 20 years in prison each for child trafficking in Liberia.

The decision was made on Monday at Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie.

The women Halimantu Daramy, Grace Sesay, Hawa Kamara, Henrita Beayce, and Famata Doe—were found guilty of trying to traffic 14 children and working together to carry out the crime.

According to the court, the women were arrested on April 10, 2025, at the Red Light area in Monrovia by immigration officers. They were caught traveling with 14 children, most of whom were not their own.

Investigations showed that the women planned to move the children through other countries like Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to Mali. Authorities believe they wanted to use the children to get money and benefits from international aid groups.

Police also revealed that the same group had taken eight children to Mali in 2024 and later received support from organizations like the Red Cross and the International Organization for Migration.

Witnesses told the court that the women used lies and fake documents to recruit and move the children.

The Ministry of Gender confirmed that the children, aged between 11 months and 8 years, are now under government care. Some have been reunited with relatives, but all remain protected while DNA tests are being done to confirm their real families.

Lawyers for the women argued that the children were never taken outside Liberia, but the court rejected that claim. The judge said trafficking does not need to be completed for it to be a crime.

The court ruled that the women planned and worked together to commit the act, which qualifies as human trafficking under Liberian law.

All five women have now been sent to the Monrovia Central Prison to serve their 20-year sentence.

The court also ordered the government to continue caring for the children, including providing food, shelter, healthcare, and education.