By By: The Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – The Joint Security Investigative Taskforce has formally charged five individuals in connection with the attempted exportation of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine through Roberts International Airport, with an estimated street value of $19.2 million. The seizure, which occurred on June 7, 2026, has been described by Inspector General of Police Gregory O. W. Coleman as “not just an ordinary drug case” but a “serious transnational cocaine trafficking operation” exploiting Liberia’s aviation system. The investigation has uncovered a pattern of criminal enterprise, with evidence pointing to a previous shipment processed in May 2026 using similar false cargo declarations.
The principal suspects now face charges under the Amended Controlled Drug and Substance Act of 2023 and the Revised Penal Code of Liberia. Paul King, manager of Global Logistics Service, has been charged with conspiracy, facilitation, and storage of the consignment. Michael U.S. Brown, also known as Raheem Bah, is linked to organizing the shipment and attempting to recover the cocaine after seizure. Oscar Brown, Emmanuel Bah, and Usman Ali have also been charged in connection with the trafficking operation. All suspects face counts including unlicensed exportation, trafficking, possession, and criminal conspiracy, with arrest warrants issued and international extradition requests underway for those at large.
The investigation has exposed deliberate efforts by cartel operatives to bribe security personnel and interfere with the seizure, revealing a sophisticated network operating within Liberia’s cargo system. Authorities have examined cargo trails, communication records, digital evidence, and witness testimony, reconstructing what they describe as a systematic criminal enterprise. The probe has also identified other persons of interest, including Philip Yeoh, Festus S. Musa, and Ruth Gbapaywhea, as the investigation continues to expand its scope.
The case has prompted significant administrative action, with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai suspending a National Oil Company of Liberia board member with ties to entities under scrutiny. The House of Representatives has passed a resolution urging the suspension of cargo operators GLS Menzies and Express Handling Services at Roberts International Airport pending the investigation’s outcome. The Liberian Senate has also challenged investigators on why key suspects have not been arrested immediately, underscoring the political and public pressure surrounding the case.
Inspector General Coleman issued a stern warning to traffickers, facilitators, and corrupt enablers, declaring that Liberia “cannot and will not be a safe transit point for any transnational criminal organization.” He emphasized that narcotic trafficking “corrodes institutions,” “finances organized crime,” and destroys communities, while vowing that authorities would pursue suspects “to every length and breadth of this country and beyond the borders.” Coleman stressed that no one is above the law, regardless of political connections or social status.
The investigation remains active, with authorities treating it as a network investigation aimed at identifying every participant, from financiers and organizers to handlers and corrupt insiders. The joint special investigative team is working to tighten security vulnerabilities at Roberts International Airport, including chain of custody procedures and screening protocols. International law enforcement cooperation and mutual legal assistance mechanisms are being utilized to pursue suspects hiding abroad.
In his concluding remarks, Coleman made clear that this case “will definitely not be buried,” stating that “it has just started” and the network “will be dismantled.” While emphasizing that all accused persons remain innocent until proven guilty in a court of competent jurisdiction, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ending the culture of impunity under President Boakai’s leadership, warning those watching that “our officers are not your brokers” and that the exploitation of vulnerabilities in Liberia’s institutions must stop.
