Monrovia, Liberia – Five people and one logistics business have been officially charged by the Liberia National Police (LNP) in relation to the discovery of over 237.6 kilograms of cocaine worth over US$19 million at Roberts International Airport. Gregory O. W. Coleman, Inspector General of Police, said on Saturday, June 4, that the accusations came after a combined national security investigation into what police called a sophisticated transnational drug trafficking network that reportedly smuggled cocaine overseas using Liberia’s air cargo system.
Michael U.S. Browne, also known as Rahim or Raheem Bah; Oscar J. Browne; Emmanuel Kpah; Paul J. King, operations manager of Global Logistics Services (GLS) and the company itself; and Usman Ali, who investigators identified as the consignee based in the United Kingdom, were all charged.
Except for King and GLS, the remaining suspects have been charged in absentia after authorities said they fled or are outside Liberia. According to police, efforts are being made to obtain their arrest using international law enforcement channels and arrest warrants.
The suspects are charged with several violations under the Revised Penal Code of Liberia and the Amended Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, according to the police. Criminal conspiracy and the unlawful exportation, transportation, possession, and trafficking of restricted substances are among the charges. Usman Ali also faces an extra allegation of criminal solicitation.
The investigation finds that Paul J. King, acting in his capacity as operations manager of GLS, and GLS itself, acting through its operations structure, conspired, accepted, facilitated, stored, and transported the six-box consignment of cocaine through the airport cargo chain. The investigation further finds that GLS, through its responsible management channels, provided substantial assistance to the trafficking scheme.
Accordingly, Paul J. King and GLS have been charged under Chapter 14 Sections 84, 85, 89 and 93 of the Amended Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2023 and Chapter 10 Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, Captioned:
- Unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed transportation and trading in transit of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed possession of controlled drugs or substances
- Illicit trafficking in controlled drugs or substances
- Criminal conspiracy
The investigation links Michael U.S. Browne, also known as Rahim or Raheem Bah, to the organization of the shipment, the use of bogus front companies, the coordination of cargo falsely declared as Maggi cubes and lappas, and the attempts to recover the cocaine after it was discovered.
He has been charged in absentia under Chapter 14 Sections 84, 85, 89 and 93 of the Amended Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2023 and Chapter 10 Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, captioned:
- Unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed transportation and trading in transit of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed possession of controlled drugs or substances
- Illicit trafficking in controlled drugs or substances
- Criminal conspiracy
The investigation established that Oscar J. Browne scanned and cleared similar cargo shipped on the 22nd of May, 2026, and made repeated calls to colleagues regarding the June 5th shipment that was seized on June 7, 2026, at the Roberts International Airport in an effort to secure the release of the cargo after its contents had already been discovered. He has been charged in absentia under Chapter 14 Sections 84, 85, 89 and 93 of the Amended Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2023 and Chapter 10 Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, captioned:
- Unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed transportation and trading in transit of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed possession of controlled drugs or substances
- Illicit trafficking in controlled drugs or substances
- Criminal conspiracy
The investigation identifies Emmanuel Kpah as the person who delivered the shipment and associated cash in connection with the cargo transaction. He has been charged in absentia under Chapter 14 Sections 84, 85, 89 and 93 of the Amended Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2023 and Chapter 10 Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, captioned:
- Unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed transportation and trading in transit of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed possession of controlled drugs or substances
- Illicit trafficking in controlled drugs or substances
- Criminal conspiracy
Suspect Usman Ali, identified as the consignee based in the UK, has been charged in absentia under Chapter 14 Sections 84, 85, 89 and 93 of the Amended Controlled Drugs and Substance Act of 2023 and Chapter 10 Sections 2, 3, and 4 of the Revised Penal Code of Liberia, Captioned.
- Unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed transportation and trading in transit of controlled drugs or substances
- Unlicensed possession of controlled drugs or substances
- Illicit trafficking in controlled drugs or substances
- Criminal conspiracy
IG Coleman stated that authorities are pursuing all suspects who are in hiding, abroad, or otherwise avoiding the legal system using all legal measures at the Republic of Liberia’s disposal, despite the fact that only one suspect, Paul King, is now in custody. These actions include extradition requests, arrest warrants, foreign law enforcement cooperation, and, when appropriate, mutual legal assistance procedures.
This is where things get trickier. For years, Liberia had been beholden to INTERPOL, the International Criminal Police Organization, which functions as the world’s largest international police agency. INTERPOL, which has its headquarters in Lyon, France, helps law enforcement agencies share data, trace fugitives, and fight transnational crimes like drug trafficking, cybercrime, and terrorism by facilitating cross-border police cooperation among 196 member nations.
Investigators claimed that certain members of the network tried to retrieve the shipment and obstruct the inquiry after the drugs were found, noting that the accused plotted to export the cocaine under the guise of commercial cargo labelled as Maggi cubes and lappas.
The inquiry has advanced to the prosecution phase, according to Inspector General Coleman, and the case will be sent to court for a trial. He stressed that even though the suspects have been charged, they are still entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence until a court of competent authority finds them guilty.
Investigations into a previous shipment connected to the same network are still ongoing, according to authorities, and more arrests and charges may be made as they continue to look for anyone involved in the alleged trafficking operation.
