The suspended boss of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Col. Abraham Kromah, giving his testimony in a major drug case on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, testified that he used drugs peddlers and takers to gather information on George Obi alias Japan, a resident of the Japan Freeway.
When quizzed by defense lawyers when he (Kromah) got to know that Japan was involved with dealing drugs? Col. Kromah, serving as subpoena witness, said he had no knowledge on Defendant George Obi being in affiliation with drugs peddlers, distributors and even managing drug cartel until he (AB Kromah) became a Director General at the LDEA when he got an intel from state securities and ordinary citizens.
“I had no clue to that until becoming a Director of and that’s how state securities and other people told me so; I was shocked when people told me about him being a peddler, so as an experienced law enforcement practitioner I did not hold it against Japan,” said AB Kromah.
According to Kromah, he never knew that Japan was a drug dealer and distributor in the Japan Freeway area, instead he was a car spare parts businessman because he (Kromah) used to carry his vehicle to Japan for fixing.
“Obi has been in the community doing spare parts business on cars; he’s expensive and never gives discounts to me as his customer, so to find out that he was dealing drugs began very confusing to me when I took over as the LDEA Boss,” AB Kromah testified.
Recently, Japan on the witness stand, accused Col. Kromah of owing his (George Obi) US$2,700 and refused to pay after making several promises; based upon that, AB serving as LDEA boss led a search and seizure warrant to his house and planted drugs in his compound. But Kromah denied the allegation and said he doesn’t owe Japan any money.
“First of all, I don’t owe Japan; I owe Obi zero cent; there is no way Japan will allow me to owe him such money because Obi doesn’t allow his customers to credit his spare parts. If he did, immediately he will send his boys to you to pay his money; even if it’s five cents you will pay,” Kromah said.
It can be recalled the Resident Judge of Criminal court C” A. Blamo Dixon issued a Writ of Subpoena Decu Tecum and Ad Testificandum on the Liberian Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA) suspended Director General Abraham Kromah.
Judge Dixon’s decision was triggered from a motion made by one of the defense lawyers requesting Mr. Kromah to appear before the court on Friday, October 4, 2024, to testify on behalf of the defendants.
Defense lawyers’ request, according to them, is intended to have Col. Kromah produce evidence in regards to the case as to his role for and on behalf of the defendants. In the same manner, the court also subpoenaed the acting LDEA Officer in Charge Christopher Peter to appear on Thursday October 3, along with CCTV footage taken from the home of one of the defendants, George Obi alias Japan.
The Grand Jury of Montserrado County indicted George Obi, alias Japan, Peter Mamah, Edwin Ozioko, Ndubuis Okornkwo, Igwe David, Sunday Udeh, Shelly, Shelton, Evan Jamo, China Ekwa, Edwin Ozioko, Bridgestone Harris and others to be identified.
Defendant Obi and others were charged with the crimes of Unlawful Maintenance and Distribution of Controlled Drug or Substance, Unlicensed Sale and Distribution of Controlled Drugs, or Substance Criminal Conspiracy. The defendants alleged crimes violate 26, Section 14.94, Section 14.85, Section 14.89 (a), and (b), Section 14.91, and it’s against the peace and dignity of the Republic of Liberia.
On February 21, 2024, the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency Special team via- a Search and Seizures Warrant and a Writ of Arrest from the New Kru Town St. Paul Bridge Magisterial Court was sent at the homes of the named Defendants; as such, they were arrested with Kush, 800g, Heroin, 133.5g, Marijuana, 500g, and Tramadol 16.6g, totaling 1,450.1g.
The indictment said the defendants being in the know of the harmfulness of these drugs to the growth and development of the country went on to sell them. However, the Grand Jury said that the defendants had the intent to pollute Liberia’s youthful population, and they began to purposely, knowingly, willfully and intentionally, transport, distribute, and sell these drugs at the detriment of Liberian society. The value of drugs according to the LDEA investigation is put at the total sum of US$31,625 or its equivalent of LD$6,077,370.00.
By T.Q. Lula Jaurey
