The Liberia National Police (LNP) has formally charged five individuals and one logistics firm following the interception of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine at Roberts International Airport (RIA).
The narcotics, valued at over US$19 million, were discovered in early June concealed inside cargo falsely declared as seasoning cubes and traditional fabrics. The indictments follow weeks of public criticism and a special Liberian Senate hearing demanding answers over the initially slow-moving investigation.
Investigators revealed that the sophisticated operation spans beyond a single interception, linking the June bust to a previous drug shipment processed through the same logistics chain in May 2026. The LNP has officially charged Paul J. King (Operations Manager of Global Logistics Services), the logistics firm itself, Michael U.S. Browne, Oscar J. Browne, Emmanuel Kpah, and UK-based consignee Usman Ali. They face multiple charges under Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act, alongside allegations of trying to compromise the investigation through bribery.
While Police Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman announced that international arrest warrants and extradition protocols are being deployed to secure suspects outside the country, the accused maintain the presumption of innocence. Notably, principal suspect Paul Jamaal King has publicly denied any wrongdoing, claiming his role was strictly limited to standard freight forwarding with no knowledge of the contraband. Authorities are continuing a wider network investigation to completely dismantle the cartel’s local and international links.
ABJ/APA