(Monrovia, Liberia), The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has welcomed the sentencing of five women to 20 years in prison each for trafficking 14 minors and engaging in criminal conspiracy, hailing the ruling as a strong step in safeguarding children across Liberia.
The judgment was delivered on Monday by Judge Roosevelt Z. Willie at Criminal Court โAโ, Temple of Justice, Monrovia, during the February Term in Montserrado County.
The convicted women, Halimantu Daramy, Grace Sesay, Hawa Kamara, Henrita Beayce, and Famata Doe, were prosecuted by the Ministry of Justice with support from the Ministryโs legal team after being arrested on April 10, 2025, at the Red Light transport hub in Monrovia by officers of the Liberia Immigration Service.
The women were traveling with the 14 children, most of whom were later found not to be their biological offspring.
Investigators from the Liberia National Police revealed that the women planned to transport the children through neighboring countries, including Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, en route to Mali, intending to exploit them for financial gain from humanitarian resettlement programs. Evidence also showed that the same group had previously attempted a similar scheme in 2024, bringing eight children to Mali and receiving support from international organizations, including the International Organization for Migration and the Red Cross.
All five women received 20-year prison sentences, with immediate enforcement at Monrovia Central Prison. The court ordered the Ministry of Gender to continue custody of the 14 children, providing them with food, shelter, healthcare, and education. DNA testing will verify any claims of parental or familial rights before custody changes.
Gender Minister Gbeme Horace-Kollie said:
“We welcome this verdict and applaud the court for reinforcing Liberiaโs commitment to ending child trafficking. The Ministry remains steadfast in protecting children and ensuring justice for the most vulnerable in our society.”
Minister Horace-Kollie also commended the Ministryโs legal team for their strong collaboration with the Ministry of Justice, which was instrumental in ensuring that justice was served.
The case underscores the ongoing need to combat child trafficking in West Africa, where poverty and porous borders often make children vulnerable to exploitation.
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection reaffirms its firm stance against child trafficking and calls on all Liberians, communities, and partners to remain vigilant in protecting our children and upholding their rights. Justice has been served, and the safety of our children remains our highest priority.
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