Jury Convicts Two LDEA Officers and Nigerian National in Margibi Cocaine Case

Margibi, Liberia: A 12-member jury at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County has found two senior officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and a Nigerian national guilty of drug trafficking.

Those convicted are Joe Logan, a senior LDEA officer assigned to Roberts International Airport; Lovette Flowers, another senior LDEA officer; and Nigerian national Tony Obi.

The case involves cocaine reportedly valued at US$181,008 and more than LD$63.2 million. The jury returned the guilty verdict following closing arguments from state prosecutors and defense lawyers.

During the month-long trial, prosecutors presented four witnesses who they said directly connected the three defendants to the drug-trafficking operation.

According to the prosecution, Quita Dolo Kosso and LDEA officer Abdullah Sherrif, who were also accused of participating in the operation, admitted their involvement. Kosso and Sherrif were subsequently sentenced to five and two years in prison, respectively.

Prosecutors alleged that 14 plates of cocaine were seized from the group. They claimed that Logan and Flowers removed four of the plates and later sold them on the illegal market.

The state further alleged that some LDEA officers received a US$10,000 bribe from members of the drug-trafficking network to interfere with the investigation.

Prosecutors urged the jury to convict the defendants, arguing that LDEA officers are trained to detect and combat drug crimes and should never participate in such activities. They said a guilty verdict would discourage other law-enforcement officers from becoming involved in drug trafficking.

Defense lawyers, however, maintained that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. They asked the jury to acquit the defendants, arguing that inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence created reasonable doubt.

The defense specifically challenged the number of cocaine plates involved. According to the lawyers, the investigation initially established that 10 plates were seized, while prosecutors later claimed that 14 plates were involved. They argued that the difference represented a major contradiction that should have favored the defendants.

Court records indicate that the drugs were intercepted in July 2025 from Quita Kosso, who reportedly arrived at Roberts International Airport aboard a Kenya Airways flight from Thailand.