IPNEWS-Monrovia: SONIT LIBERIA INC, has issued a clarification on the seizure and subsequently burning of 520 kg of cocaine, valued at US$100 million, recently seized by officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the National Security Agency (NSA) as part of the biggest drug bust in Liberian history.
According to the LDEA, the consignment of the cocaine drug was in transit from South America (Brazil) to an unknown destination and received a tipoff from the American Government that the huge consignment was transiting through Liberia, that led to the receiver being arrested and the consignment seized at the leased cold-storage facility of SONIT Liberia Inc., in Topoe Village Community, along the Japan Freeway.
In the process of seizing the huge cocaine consignment, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency LDEA and the National Security Agency (NSA), also apprehended Guinea-Bissauan national identified as Malam Conte, Lebanese national identified as Issa Mekki, the Portuguese Gustavo Henrique, and Brazilian Adulai Djibril, while the LDEA is said to pursuing other suspects in connection to the crime.
The investigation also linked the AJA-Group Holding, and the Fresh Frozen Food Inc., the TRH Trading Incorporated, under AJA-Group Holding group as alleged key drug trafficking syndicates, under the spotlight.
SONIT Liberia Inc., the Frozen Food Company in Topoe Village, the place where the huge narcotics substances, were seized earlier denied their involvement in transiting the huge consignment to Liberia.
According to investigation, a guy who asked for anonymity, had informed Investigators that SONIT Liberia Inc., the place where the arrest was made, is a French frozen food company, that had challenges with their business and had not be operating, which prompted the management to have rented their facility to TRH Trading Corporation that is said to be under the management of Mr. Bilal Ibrahim.
In their Press release, the company said in documentation in the possession of this outlet that it has ceased its operations in Liberia for the past two years and no longer carries out any business activity in Liberia, and had rented its facility to the TRH Trading Corporation, with documentation bearing signatory notifications by the two companies.
“This is to inform you that SONIT Liberia Inc., has ceased its operations for the past two years and no longer carries out any business activity in Monrovia/Liberia, Consequently, our offices in Monrovia have been closed since 2021 and our cold stores located in Monrovia have been rented out effectively from the 1st day of October 2021 to TRH TRADING CORPORATION,” the released said.
“Take notice that the cold stores and the cargoes related to it are solely under the management of TRH TRADING CORPORATION,” the release added.
Speaking further in Conversation with a local daily The New Dawn, Hassan Saadé, CEO of SONIT Liberia, sincerely apologized that the integrity of SONIT Liberia Inc., is mentioned in such criminal saga, adding “We sincerely hope that this statement will put to rest the motivated, malicious and false propaganda being run against SONIT Liberia.”
Documents in the possession of this news outlet reveals that SONIT Liberia Inc., represented by Hassan Hadi Saadé, signed the corporative rental agreement between SONIT Liberia Inc., and TRH Trading Corporation represented by its CEO Mr. Bilal Ibrahim, both signed the corporative rental Contract of the SONIT Liberia’s Cold Storage Facility in Topoe Village, Japan Freeway.
In the Rental agreement involving SONIT Liberia, Infrastructure and Equipment at Topoe Village, to TRH Corporation involves six counts,
- A) A landscape covering an area of 5,5 Acre with fence and electric cables for electricity.
- B) A Hanger containing three (3) cold rooms that can store 2,700 tons.
- C) Cold equipment, Compressors and installations which require the operation of cold rooms.
- D) Two generator sets with cooling, 550KVA and the second 33 KVA with its fuel storage tank.
- E) One R +2 Building serving as an apartment and administrative office for all the buildings are fully furnished and equipped in a document seen by this outlet.
In addition the agreement period began from 1 October 2021 to 30 September 2022, and amount of US$22,500.00 payable in per quarter advance.
Meanwhile, as the search continues for would-be suspects tied to the major drug syndicate that led to the burst operation that took place in Monrovia, recently, the TRH Trading Corporation has been alleged as suspects involved in the transiting of the recent 100 Million dollars drug bust with the suspects being arrested and the cocaine drug subsequently burned by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA). The seized and burnt cocaine drug, according to the LDEA, is put at 520Km.
The TRH Trading Corporation, originated from Hungary, Europe, and situated in Jamaica road, Bushrod Island, Monrovia, with several sub branches, across Liberia, has been allegedly accused as the main syndicate that led to the recent drug bust.
A local daily, the New Dawn’s investigation tipoff, with documents in their possession, put TRH Trading Corporation, under the supervision of AJA holding group as alleged importer of the huge consignment of cocaine in Liberia.
In a news conference, on Tuesday, the President of the Custom Brokers Association of Liberia James Hinneh, also accused the TRH Trading Corporation as the Importers of the consignment and blamed the Ministry of Commerce for allegedly aiding the process.
According to Hinneh, the Bill of Landing document reviewed by this outlet which validates the specific owner of a particular consignment or container including the CTN certificate as well as the invoice from APM Terminal all proves that the consignment was brought into the Country by TRH.
He said the Custom Brokers of Liberia, will remain supportive toward, the government of Liberia’s fight against illicit drugs and other unwholesome substances entering into the Country.
In the news conference, Mr. Hinneh, accused the Ministry of Commerce and Industry for allegedly giving privilege to the TRH Trading Corporation, something he said aided the leakage for the huge consignment of cocaine to sneak into the Country bypassing the Liberia Custom Brokers.
