The Liberian Government, through the Ministry of Labour, has intercepted a major human trafficking ring, rescued several victims and arrested other suspected ring leaders.
A Labour Ministry press release issued in Monrovia on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, quotes the Director of Trafficking in Persons (TIP), Nuho Kenneh as disclosing that the scenario was sparked a few days ago at the Paynesville Red Light Community when an angry crowd claimed to have gone to rescue about 19 individuals they suspected of being trafficked out of the country.
In a brief note transmitted to Acting Labour Minister Hon. Othello Mansuo regarding the incident and quoted by the Labour Ministry press release, TIP Director Nuho revealed that of the 19 suspected TIP victims, 14 were children with 7 boys and seven girls, while the remainder 5 were all adult women.
Director Kenneh, in his brief note to Acting Labour Minister Mansuo, added that 11 of the children were subsequently transferred to the care of an Assistant Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The Labour Ministry press release further quotes TIP Director Kenneh as informing Acting Labour Minister Mansuo that an additional 5 adult women were incepted and forwarded to the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) for further scrutiny.
Kenneh stressed that three of the suspected trafficked children were a little over three years each and eventually turned over to their mothers for life survival through breastfeeding, while State Security assists the Ministry in finalizing the ongoing investigation into the suspected human trafficking syndicate.
Director Kenneh’s briefing note to the Acting Minister revealed fresh information emanating from the southeastern parts of Liberia over reports of alarming TIP activities. In response, the release quotes Acting Labour Minister Mansuo as assuring full coordination with relevant state security, and local and international partners in the fight against Trafficking In Persons of government’s unwavering commitment to battle the menace.
Minister Mansuo added that as Chair of the National Antihuman Trafficking Task Force, the Labour Ministry seeks greater support and partnership with regional and international stakeholders. He lauded ECOWAS for the initial USD30,000 grant provided to the Ministry last year to boost TIP operations. Meanwhile, Mansuo is calling for a speedy probe and eventual possible prosecution of those suspected of the crime.
