Monrovia, July 4 -- Criminal Court 'C' in Monrovia has sentenced a 38-year-old Liberian woman, Rita Williams, to three years and six months in prison after she pleaded guilty to trafficking 1.9 kilograms of cocaine.

Williams admitted in open court on Thursday to smuggling the drugs, which have an estimated street value of over US$100,000.

Her arrest followed a routine inspection by officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) at the Klay checkpoint near the Guinean border in August 2024.

Authorities said the cocaine was found hidden inside Williams' bag as she attempted to pass through the checkpoint. She was subsequently charged with illegal possession and trafficking of narcotics, leading to her indictment by the Grand Ju...