Published: June 25, 2025
MONROVIA – Peach H. Bility, son of Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility, has pleaded guilty to multiple felony drug charges after reaching a plea agreement with state prosecutors.
Bility entered his guilty plea Tuesday before Criminal Court ‘C’ Judge Joe S. Barkon, ending what was expected to be a full jury trial in one of the country’s most high-profile narcotics cases this term. He was originally indicted in May 2024 on two counts related to the unlicensed possession and distribution of controlled substances.
Following the plea, Bility’s defense lawyer, Cllr. Michael Wilkins Wright, requested the court to discharge the 15 sequestered jurors previously impaneled for the trial. The prosecution raised no objection, and Judge Barkon granted the request.
The judge then instructed the clerk of court to formally notify the Probation Office at the Ministry of Justice to conduct a pre-sentence investigation into the defendant’s character and background. The report, which must be submitted within five working days, will inform the court’s decision on sentencing in accordance with Chapter 16, Section 16.5 of Liberia’s Criminal Procedure Law. That provision mandates prompt sentencing following a guilty plea or upon receipt of a pre-sentence report when required by law or requested by the judge.
According to court documents, Bility was arrested on March 24, 2024, around 11:26 p.m. at Miami Beach in the Mamba Point area of Monrovia. The indictment stated that he was apprehended distributing controlled substances from a gray vehicle bearing license plate A41029-LB. His arrest followed intelligence reports from confidential informants and surveillance by the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), which reportedly found him smoking marijuana at the scene.
During a search of the vehicle, conducted in Bility’s presence and with his consent, law enforcement officers discovered a significant quantity of drugs and weapons. Items recovered included 21.4 grams of a cannabis and fentanyl mixture, commonly known on the street as “kush,” along with 500 grams of marijuana, referred to locally as “Lawo.” Officers also retrieved a single-barrel pistol, an orange firearm identified as SCC4-CPX-29MM, a black pistol labeled AGUL 175 made in the United States, and a pack of live ammunition.
Prosecutors argued that the substances in Bility’s possession are the same types of drugs wreaking havoc in communities across Monrovia and other parts of the country. The indictment highlighted that the use of such narcotics is contributing to violent crimes, theft, and the growing social decay among Liberian youth. It further asserted that drug users—many of whom rely on the substances Bility was allegedly distributing—have become a menace to community safety, often engaging in robberies, physical assaults, and other criminal acts that spread fear among residents, business owners, and visitors alike.
Initially, Bility had pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial, which prompted the court to select and sequester 15 jurors at the Temple of Justice. However, he later reversed course and accepted a plea deal under which he confessed to the charges without contest.
The estimated value of the seized drugs was placed at US$428 and L$1,425,000, according to court filings.
The government indicted Bility under Sections 14.85 and 14.89 of Liberia’s amended Penal Code for unlicensed possession, sale, trade, dispensation, delivery, and distribution of controlled drugs and substances. Both offenses are classified as first-degree felonies.
Following the submission of the pre-sentence report, Judge Barkon is expected to hand down a sentence in the coming days. No sentencing date has yet been announced. If convicted to the full extent of the law, Bility could face a prison sentence ranging from several years to life, depending on the outcome of the investigation and the judge’s final ruling.
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