-Detained Ahead of Trial
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia: Five women accused of trafficking 14 children have been remanded at Monrovia Central Prison pending trial, in a case that has raised serious concerns about child exploitation and human trafficking in Liberia.
The suspects—Halimatu Daramy, Fanta Doe, Hawah Kamara, Henrietta Beaye, and Grace H. Sesay—were arrested by the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) at the Red Light market while allegedly attempting to leave the country with the minors, whose ages range from 11 months to 8 years old.
During police interrogation, the women reportedly admitted that they were en route to Burkina Faso under the pretext of an IOM (International Organization for Migration) resettlement program. Authorities revealed that this was their second attempt after a failed trafficking operation in Mali earlier this year.
The suspects allegedly claimed the children were their relatives, stating they took them along because they owed debts after returning to Liberia without assistance. However, investigators suspect the children were being trafficked for exploitative purposes.
Mastermind Identified, Misuse of Financial Aid
Police sources indicate that Halimatu Daramy, the alleged ringleader, recruited the other women into the scheme. Shockingly, authorities disclosed that the group had previously received 50,000 Liberian dollars (approx. $250) in financial assistance from the Ministry of Gender and a local church group to help them reintegrate into society—but instead, they allegedly used the funds to plan another trafficking attempt.
The case has been forwarded to court, where the women will face charges under Liberia’s **human trafficking laws. If convicted, they could face severe penalties, including lengthy prison sentences.
Child trafficking remains a critical issue in West Africa, with Liberia serving as both a source and transit country. Weak enforcement mechanisms allow traffickers to exploit gaps in the system.
