Monrovia, Liberia -The sentence of Nigerian citizen Ms. Esther Asuaquo to ten (10) years in jail for human trafficking has been applauded by Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah, Sr., Minister of Labor and Chairman of Liberia’s citizen human trafficking taskforce. After months of court processes, the 7th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Gedeh County found Ms. Asuaquo guilty and punished her in the Republic of Liberia vs. Esther Asuaquo case.
Three Nigerian female juveniles between the ages of 15 and 19 were trafficked by Ms. Asuaquo in 2025 under the guise of being sent to Liberia to work in a beauty salon, according to court documents. She allegedly took the victims to an illicit gold mining location where they were forced into prostitution in order to benefit financially.
The conviction is the Liberian courts’ second successful prosecution of human traffickers in the past six months. Republic of Liberia vs. Bendu Kamara and Others, a case concerning the suspected trafficking of four children, three boys and one girl, is presently pending before the 5th Judicial Circuit Court in Grand Cape Mount County.
Five Liberian women were found guilty and punished earlier this year of trafficking fourteen children between the ages of five and fourteen by Criminal Court “A” at the Temple of Justice in Monrovia. Speaking to reporters after Ms. Asuaquo was sentenced, Minister Kruah promised that in the next months and years, the Liberian government will step up its efforts to look into, indict, and prosecute anyone involved in human trafficking.
According to him, the National Human Trafficking Taskforce is still dedicated to lowering human trafficking in Liberia by enforcing anti-trafficking legislation strictly and prosecuting more suspected traffickers. Minister Kruah reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to combating human trafficking through coordinated, sustained, and people-centered interventions.
He emphasized that the government will continue to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement institutions, including the Liberia National Police, labor inspectors, and other members of the joint security apparatus, to ensure their active participation in the fight against trafficking in persons. The minister also commended Liberia’s development partners for their continued cooperation and support in combating human trafficking, noting the significant progress being made by the government in the arrest and prosecution of alleged traffickers.
