By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – Liberia’s widening investigation into the attempted export of approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine valued at an estimated US$19.2 million has taken another turn, with GLS Menzies General Manager Paul King reportedly telling investigators that he unknowingly processed the shipment after receiving a quotation request from an individual identified as Rahem Bah.
According to information emerging from the ongoing investigation, King told the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force that on June 5, 2026, Rahem Bah contacted his office requesting a quotation for a shipment. King reportedly said the cargo was subsequently processed under the name Emre Group of Companies, insisting that he had no knowledge of the contents because he was not physically present during the handling of the consignment.
King reportedly maintained that he was merely assisting what he believed to be a returning customer and had no reason to suspect the shipment contained illegal narcotics.
His explanation comes as investigators intensify efforts to unravel what is believed to be a sophisticated international drug trafficking operation that attempted to move cocaine valued at approximately US$19.2 million through Roberts International Airport (RIA).
King had previously been listed among individuals sought by Liberia’s state security apparatus after the massive cocaine shipment allegedly destined for Europe was uncovered. However, in a statement issued on Sunday, June 21, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that King voluntarily surrendered to the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force and is currently in custody, where he is assisting investigators.
His cooperation is widely viewed as one of the key developments since the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) announced the June 8 seizure that has shaken public confidence in airport security and raised fears that transnational drug trafficking syndicates may have infiltrated Liberia’s aviation sector.
The case stems from the interception of six cargo boxes reportedly destined for Europe aboard a Brussels Airlines flight. According to investigators, the shipment contained 198 compressed plates of cocaine weighing approximately 237.6 kilograms. The sheer quantity and estimated street value of the narcotics have raised troubling questions about how the consignment allegedly passed through multiple layers of cargo handling, screening, and airport security before it was intercepted.
King’s reported statement also places fresh attention on the identity and role of Rahem Bah, the individual he claims initiated the shipment. Investigators are expected to determine whether Bah acted independently or was part of a criminal network coordinating the attempted export.
The latest revelations follow Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh’s announcement identifying ten individuals allegedly connected to the operation while disclosing that several key suspects remain at large. Among those publicly identified as persons of interest are Philip Yeoh, Security Manager of GLS Menzies; Festus S. Musa, a GLS Menzies cargo handler; Ruth Gbapaywhea and Geraldine Zeon, scanner agents at Roberts International Airport; Archie Nyanfor, a cargo handler with Express Handling Services; Arthur B. Abdullai, Chief Executive Officer of Express Handling Services; and Mohammed Gbowrah, Security Director of Roberts International Airport.
The expanding investigation has also triggered decisive action from the House of Representatives. Lawmakers have formally urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to immediately suspend the operations of GLS Cargo Services and affiliated cargo handling companies at Roberts International Airport pending the outcome of the multimillion-dollar drug trafficking investigation.
The recommendation followed the unanimous adoption of Resolution No. 001/2026 on Thursday, June 25, after extensive deliberations involving at least 40 lawmakers during plenary. The resolution reflects growing legislative concern over the integrity of Liberia’s airport cargo system following one of the country’s largest recent cocaine seizures.
Lawmakers specifically called for the temporary suspension of Global Logistics Services (GLS-NAS Inc.) and Express Handling Services (EHS) while investigators determine how the cocaine shipment allegedly entered the cargo chain at Roberts International Airport. The resolution is directly linked to the ongoing LDEA investigation, which has fueled nationwide concern over possible weaknesses in cargo screening procedures and airport security protocols.
Before the resolution was adopted, Sinoe County Electoral District #3 Representative Alex S. Noah urged swift legislative intervention, warning that allowing companies under investigation to continue operating could undermine public confidence and tarnish Liberia’s international reputation in the fight against organized crime.
Representative Noah argued that although the criminal investigation remains ongoing, the unresolved circumstances surrounding the movement of the narcotics require immediate institutional safeguards. He also reminded lawmakers that President Boakai had already suspended the Chief Executive Officer of one of the companies, who also serves on the Board of Directors of the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), after he was identified as a person of interest in the case.
According to Representative Noah, permitting the companies to continue operating at one of Liberia’s principal ports of entry while the investigation unfolds could compromise the integrity of the probe and send the wrong message about the country’s commitment to combating international drug trafficking.
Investigators continue interrogations and forensic examinations of documents, cargo records, and surveillance evidence. The case remains one of Liberia’s most consequential anti-narcotics investigations in recent history, with additional arrests expected as investigators seek to dismantle the network allegedly responsible for the multimillion-dollar cocaine trafficking operation.
