MONROVIA – Correctional officer, Madam Patience McGill, was arrested on Monday, December 16, 2024, for allegedly trafficking cocaine into the Monrovia Central Prison. McGill was detained after she was caught attempting to smuggle a package of cocaine to an inmate.
Assigned to routine duties at the prison, Madam McGill, 44, was responsible for retrieving two inmates to collect soup from the prison kitchen. During this task, she allegedly handed one of the inmates L$50 to buy the soup and instructed the inmate to deliver it to another individual she referred to as her “Peking.”
Suspicion arose when a fellow officer observed her giving the inmate both the money and a black plastic bag. The colleague immediately reported the incident to Officer Frostina J. Freeman, who launched an investigation into the matter.
When the inmate was searched, authorities discovered both the money and a package containing six grams of cocaine. Subsequent testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine.
Madam McGill admitted to giving the inmate the money but denied any knowledge of the drugs. Despite her claims, the evidence led to her arrest, and she was transferred to the Liberia National Police’s Anti-Narcotic Unit for further questioning.
The drugs, which are estimated to have a street value of L$35,600, are a part of ongoing concerns regarding narcotics trafficking within Liberia’s correctional facilities.
She has been charged under Liberia’s New Drugs Law, Chapter 14, Section 14.93, for illicit trafficking. She is currently being held at the Monrovia Central Prison, awaiting trial.
The Liberia National Police has reiterated its commitment to combatting drug trafficking and holding accountable anyone involved in illicit activities within the country’s correctional system.
