By Socrates Smythe Saywon | Smart News Liberia
MONROVIA – The biggest cocaine seizure has taken a new turn after the Liberia National Police declared that the interception of more than 237 kilograms of cocaine valued at over US$19 million was not an isolated incident but part of what investigators describe as a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking network that allegedly infiltrated the country’s aviation and cargo handling system.
In a national address on Saturday, July 4, 2026, Inspector General Gregory Coleman announced that a joint security investigation has concluded that the June 7 seizure at Roberts International Airport (RIA) was the work of an organized criminal enterprise allegedly involving logistics operators, airport-linked facilitators, and international collaborators.
Addressing the nation, Coleman dismissed any suggestion that the incident resulted from administrative mistakes or routine cargo irregularities.
“This was not a paperwork error. This was not a routine cargo discrepancy. This was not an innocent shipment gone wrong. This was a serious transnational cocaine trafficking operation using Liberia’s aviation and logistics system as a channel for organized crime,” Coleman declared.
The police chief said the cocaine had been concealed inside six cargo boxes falsely declared as Maggi cubes and lappas before investigators uncovered what he described as multiple warning signs, including inconsistencies in shipping documents, suspicious cargo screening images, and discrepancies in declared cargo weight.
According to the Joint Special Investigative Team, those irregularities prevented the shipment from leaving Liberia on June 5. When the cargo was re-screened and physically inspected on June 7, authorities discovered 198 compressed plates of cocaine weighing approximately 237.6 kilograms, a seizure that has since become one of the largest narcotics interceptions in Liberia’s history.
Investigators Allege Criminal Network Extended Beyond Single Shipment
Perhaps the most significant revelation from the investigation is the assertion that the June seizure was allegedly only one component of a much broader trafficking operation.
Coleman disclosed that investigators uncovered evidence suggesting a similar shipment moved through the airport in May 2026, allegedly using nearly identical methods, false cargo descriptions, and the same operational network.
“The June 7 seizure was not a one-off event,” the Inspector General said. “It points to a pattern, a system, and a criminal enterprise.”
Investigators said they reconstructed what they described as the cargo trail, communication records, financial transactions, digital evidence, airway bills, and witness testimonies to establish how the alleged trafficking network operated.
Authorities further alleged that after security officers discovered the cocaine, members of the organization attempted to recover the shipment by offering bribes to security personnel and interfering with the seizure.
The Joint Security Team said those actions strengthened investigators’ belief that the operation involved an organized international narcotics syndicate rather than individual actors.
Multiple Suspects Charged
Based on the findings, police announced criminal charges against several individuals and a logistics company under Liberia’s Amended Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2023 and provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
Among those charged is Paul J. King, Operations Manager of Global Logistics Services (GLS), and the company itself. Investigators allege that King and GLS facilitated, transported, stored, and assisted in moving the cocaine through the airport cargo chain.
Authorities also announced charges against Michael U.S. Browne, also known as Rahim or Raheem Bah, whom investigators allege organized the shipment through front companies and coordinated efforts to retrieve the cocaine after it had been intercepted.
Additional suspects include Oscar J. Browne, accused of allegedly facilitating related cargo operations and attempting to influence the release of the shipment after its discovery; Emmanuel Kpah, whom investigators identified as the individual who allegedly delivered the shipment and associated cash; and Usman Ali, identified as the alleged consignee based in the United Kingdom.
Police said several of the suspects have been charged in absentia, while those believed to be outside Liberia or in hiding are being pursued through arrest warrants, international law enforcement cooperation, extradition procedures, and mutual legal assistance mechanisms.
Investigation Still Expanding
Despite announcing charges, authorities emphasized that the case remains far from over.
In the Joint Security statement, investigators stressed that they are treating the matter as an expanding network investigation aimed at identifying financiers, organizers, handlers, couriers, facilitators, insiders, and foreign collaborators connected to the alleged trafficking syndicate.
The statement warned that any airport official, security officer, government employee, private company, or corporate actor found to have knowingly participated in the scheme or attempted to obstruct the investigation would face prosecution.
Investigators also disclosed plans to strengthen cargo control procedures, tighten airport screening protocols, improve chain-of-custody measures, and address security vulnerabilities within Liberia’s cargo handling system.
Liberia’s International Reputation at Stake
Beyond the criminal investigation itself, Coleman warned that narcotics trafficking threatens Liberia’s international standing and institutional credibility.
“This case should concern every citizen because narcotics trafficking is not a victimless enterprise. It corrodes institutions. It finances organized crime. It corrupts public systems. It destroys lives and communities. And it places Liberia’s name at risk in the international community,” he said.
The Inspector General added that Liberia would not permit criminal organizations to exploit political influence, commercial relationships, airport access, or financial inducements to shield drug trafficking operations.
“We will not allow criminal networks to hide behind company names, false airway bills, airport access, political connections, or cash inducements,” Coleman stated.
Due Process Emphasized
While announcing the charges, Coleman stressed that every accused individual remains entitled to the constitutional protections of due process and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
He said the responsibility of law enforcement is to conduct thorough investigations, preserve evidence, file lawful charges, and allow the courts to determine guilt or innocence.
The Joint Security Team concluded its statement with a warning that Liberia will no longer serve as a transit corridor for international narcotics traffickers.
“This investigation will continue. This network will be pursued. And this case will not be buried,” the statement declared.
