MONROVIA — A Montserrado County Grand Jury has indicted 10 defendants in connection with the alleged trafficking of a 200-kilogram cocaine shipment through Roberts International Airport (RIA), including an alleged attempt to bribe law enforcement officers with US$100,000 to recover the seized drugs.
The indictment, filed in the August Term of Criminal Court “C,” accuses George Wah Harris, alias Leroy Harris; Paul Jamaal King; Philip Yeoh Jr.; Mohammed O. Gbowrah; Moses Jallah; Michael U.S. Brown, alias Rahim/Raheem Bah; Polo Bah; Oscar J. Brown; Usman Ali; and a private bar entity/person yet to be identified of multiple offenses.
The charges include unlicensed possession of controlled drugs or substances, unlicensed importation, unlicensed sale, trading in transit and transportation of controlled substances, illicit trafficking, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation and money laundering.
At the center of the prosecution’s case is a June 5, 2026 shipment that investigators allege contained approximately 200 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside six boxes falsely declared as Maggi cubes and lappas.
According to the indictment, Paul King, identified as Global Logistics Services’ Operations Manager, allegedly contacted Arthur B. Abdullai, Country Manager of Express Cargo Handling, and arranged for the six boxes to be shipped aboard Brussels Airlines to Heathrow Airport in London, with Usman Ali listed as the consignee at an address in Birmingham, England.
Prosecutors allege that King instructed Emmanuel Kpah to deliver the cargo and US$2,150 in shipping expenses to his Old Road residence.
The indictment says the boxes were subsequently collected from King’s residence and transported to RIA for shipment.
But the alleged plan began to unravel when GLS personnel detected a discrepancy between the actual weight of the cargo and the weight recorded on the air waybill.
The cargo was nevertheless sent through the airport scanning process, where an officer reportedly raised an alarm after the contents appeared blurred and dark on the scanner.
A subsequent physical inspection allegedly revealed a white powdery substance inside one of the boxes.
According to prosecutors, the substance was later identified as cocaine.
US$100,000 OFFER TO LDEA OFFICERS
The indictment alleges that after the cocaine was discovered, George Harris, identified as one of the proprietors of Private Bar Entertainment Center in Paynesville, made a dramatic attempt to have the shipment released.
Prosecutors claim Harris contacted LDEA Special Agents Clarence Clarke and Moses Jallah, who were assigned at RIA, and allegedly offered US$100,000 to have the six boxes returned.
The indictment further alleges that Harris subsequently gave US$5,000 to Jallah at the office of Private Bar as a bribe or inducement to facilitate the recovery or swapping of the drugs.
Investigators further allege that Harris told Jallah he owned 25 percent of the drugs and was determined to get the cocaine back after it had been seized at the airport.
The indictment says Harris also offered the use of a warehouse in Sayon Town, Bushrod Island, for storage of the cocaine, although prosecutors allege the facility was unsuitable.
King Allegedly Offered US$400 TO US$600
The prosecution’s allegations also extend to King, who investigators say was informed of the cocaine discovery after GLS personnel raised concerns about the shipment.
According to the indictment, after receiving images of the white powder from Philip Yeoh, King allegedly provided telephone numbers to Yeoh and instructed him to contact individuals who could help retrieve the cargo.
Prosecutors further allege that King asked Yeoh to negotiate with RIA security personnel and initially offered US$400, later increasing the offer to US$600, for the release of the shipment.
The indictment portrays those alleged efforts as part of a broader attempt to prevent law enforcement from taking possession of the cocaine.
Former RIA Employee Allegedly Involved
Michael U.S. Brown, alias Rahim/Raheem Bah, a former Roberts International Airport employee, is also accused of playing a role in the alleged operation.
Prosecutors allege that Brown contacted King in connection with an earlier shipment on May 20, 2026, involving four black-and-yellow-lidded boxes that were allegedly declared as Maggi cubes and lappas.
The indictment alleges that the May shipment followed a similar pattern to the June consignment and that US$1,400 was paid to facilitate its shipment to Europe.
Brown is further accused of arranging the June 5 shipment and later attempting to intervene after the cocaine was discovered at RIA.
According to the indictment, Brown allegedly contacted an RIA security officer and proposed giving him money to facilitate the release of the six boxes.
Prosecutors also allege that Brown and Harris headed toward RIA after learning that the cocaine had been intercepted, with Brown allegedly assuring King that he was going to the airport to retrieve the drugs.
A Second Shipment Under Investigation
The indictment raises questions about whether the June seizure was an isolated incident.
Prosecutors allege that the May 20 shipment of four boxes followed a pattern similar to the June 5 consignment, including the declaration of the contents as Maggi cubes and lappas and the alleged payment of US$1,400 to facilitate shipment.
The May shipment is therefore being cited by prosecutors as part of the broader alleged narcotics-trafficking conspiracy.
Serious Felony Charges
The Grand Jury alleges that the defendants acted knowingly and intentionally to facilitate the possession, movement, transportation and attempted exportation of cocaine.
The prosecution is relying on provisions of Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, including Section 14.89 on unlicensed possession, Section 14.83 on unlicensed importation, Section 14.85 on unlicensed sale, trading in transit and transportation, and Section 14.93 on illicit trafficking.
The indictment also invokes provisions of Liberia’s Penal Law dealing with criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation and money laundering.
The indictment seeks the arrest of the named defendants and their appearance before the Criminal Assizes to answer to the charges.
The case is now before Criminal Court “C,” where the prosecution will have to prove its allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
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