Margibi County—The assigned Judge of the 13th Judicial Circuit Court of Margibi County, sitting in its August Term of Court, has sentenced former Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) commander Joe I. Logan, his deputy Lovette L. Flowers, and Nigerian national Tony Obi to 20 years in prison each in connection with the Quita Dolo Kosso drug case.
Judge Roosevelt Willie handed down the sentence Tuesday, following a unanimous guilty verdict returned by an empaneled trial jury against the three defendants.
In his ruling, Judge Willie said the court had considered the facts and circumstances of the case, the applicable laws, and a report from the Probation Office, which characterized the defendants as recidivists.
“Facts and circumstances and the laws controlling, as well as the report of the Probation Office, which states that these defendants are recidivists, meaning that they have committed crimes against the State repeatedly, the Court hereby confirms and affirms the unanimous guilty verdict of the trial jurors,” Judge Willie stated.
The judge subsequently sentenced Tony Obi, Joe I. Logan and Lovette L. Flowers to 20 years’ imprisonment each pursuant to Section 14.83 of the New Drug Law of the Republic of Liberia.
“This ruling takes immediate effect. The Clerk of this Court is hereby ordered to communicate with the Superintendent of the Kakata Central Prison to give effect to this Court’s Final Judgment,” Judge Willie ordered.
The sentencing confirms and affirms the jury’s recent unanimous guilty verdict against the three defendants on multiple offenses, including unlicensed possession of controlled substances, unlicensed importation of controlled drugs, criminal facilitation, forgery, misapplication of entrusted property, theft of property, criminal conspiracy, illicit trafficking, and the unlicensed sale and distribution of controlled drugs or substances.
The defendants were among several individuals indicted in connection with allegations surrounding the seizure, possession, alleged removal, trafficking and attempted sale of cocaine seized at Roberts International Airport.
How the Case Began
The case dates back to July 12, 2025, when Quita Dolo Kosso was arrested at Roberts International Airport after arriving in Liberia from Thailand aboard Kenya Airways with a quantity of cocaine.
Prosecutors maintained that 14 plates of cocaine were seized from Kosso, but that four of the plates were subsequently removed, sold, and the proceeds shared among some of the accused officers.
The defense strongly disputed that account, arguing that contemporaneous records and evidence from the initial investigation consistently showed that only 10 plates had been seized.
The defense also challenged the credibility of a key prosecution witness, Mankarpoe Duo, a former LDEA officer whose testimony was central to the State’s allegations concerning the alleged removal of four plates and the subsequent sharing of proceeds.
Duo testified that Logan instructed him and others to alter records showing that 14 plates had been seized to reflect 10 plates, and that four plates were removed.
The defense, however, pointed out that Duo had previously made statements indicating that only 10 plates were seized. He also acknowledged during the trial that some of his earlier statements were false.
Prosecutors, meanwhile, presented evidence intended to establish that the defendants participated in a scheme involving the cocaine seizure and an alleged US$10,000 payment connected to efforts to secure Kosso’s release.
Logan denied ordering the alteration of records or the removal of cocaine. He maintained that the US$10,000 was part of a sting operation intended to identify individuals attempting to bribe LDEA officers.
Flowers likewise denied participating in any scheme to remove cocaine, while Obi maintained that he was merely carrying money to the airport at the request of a friend and did not know its alleged purpose.
Despite the defense’s arguments challenging the prosecution’s evidence and the credibility of its witnesses, the jury unanimously found Logan, Flowers and Obi guilty of the charges submitted for their determination.
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