Published: August 8, 2026
MONROVIA — George Harris, also known as Leroy Harris, chief executive officer of the popular entertainment center Private Bar, has been forwarded to the Monrovia City Court on multiple criminal charges in connection with an alleged international cocaine trafficking network involving a 237-kilogram shipment intercepted at Roberts International Airport.
At the same time, several senior Liberia National Police officers implicated in the investigation were reportedly forwarded to the Paynesville City Magisterial Court under circumstances that limited media access to the proceedings.
The developments come after months of investigation into six boxes allegedly containing cocaine concealed among traditional Liberian lappas and Maggi seasoning cubes and destined for Europe through RIA.
According to a police charge sheet dated Aug. 4, 2026, Harris, 40, of the SOS Community in Montserrado County, faces charges including importation and unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs, illicit trafficking, possession and transportation of controlled substances, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, criminal solicitation, aiding the commission of a crime, money laundering and economic sabotage.
Investigators identified Paul J. King and Mohammed O. Gbowrah as co-defendants already before the court. Michael U.S. Browne, also known as Rahim or Polo Bah; Usman Ali; Oscar Brown; Emmanuel Kpah; and others were listed as either at large or still under investigation.
Investigators allege that before June 5, Emmanuel Kpah, acting on behalf of Harris and in collaboration with other members of the alleged network, arranged for six boxes containing cocaine to be delivered to King’s residence.
The boxes were allegedly disguised as ordinary cargo containing lappas and Maggi cubes and were intended for shipment to London aboard Brussels Airlines. Usman Ali was reportedly listed as the consignee in Birmingham, England.
King, then operational manager of Global Logistics Services, allegedly contacted Express Handling Services General Manager Arthur Abdullai through WhatsApp and instructed him to prepare an airway bill identifying the shipment simply as “general cargo.”
Investigators said EHS processed the shipping documents based on information provided by GLS without physically inspecting the contents.
An EHS employee, Archie Nyafor, was later instructed to collect the six boxes and US$2,150 from King’s residence and transport the cargo to RIA, according to the charge sheet.
Investigators said Nyafor received the money and boxes from King’s housemaid after instructions were allegedly provided by King over the phone.
Suspicion reportedly emerged during the weighing process at the airport when personnel discovered a discrepancy between the shipment’s actual weight and the figure listed on its airway bill.
Investigators said the cargo weighed about 237 kilograms, compared with approximately 200 kilograms recorded on the shipping documents.
The discrepancy triggered mandatory X-ray screening.
Airport security screener Ruth Gbapaywhea reportedly noticed unusually dark and blurry images inside the boxes and alerted Security Director Mohammed Gbowrah.
The shipment initially remained at the airport because the carrier was unavailable for a physical inspection, but security officers returned June 7 for a detailed examination, investigators said.
The inspection allegedly uncovered cocaine concealed inside the six boxes.
During questioning, Harris denied participating in the alleged trafficking operation.
According to investigators, Harris acknowledged knowing Browne but maintained that Browne had repeatedly asked him only to assist in traveling toward the airport.
Harris said Browne instructed him several times to contact an individual identified as Clarence to determine whether anything unusual was happening at the airport. When Clarence reportedly said he saw nothing suspicious, Browne allegedly continued asking Harris to check.
Harris told investigators that while they were traveling toward RIA, Browne borrowed his cellphone in an attempt to contact Clarence but could not reach him because Clarence’s phone had been switched off.
Harris said he eventually abandoned the trip, returned to Monrovia and dropped Browne near ELWA Junction.
According to the charge sheet, Harris also told investigators that Browne later suggested he might flee to Gold Camp in Grand Bassa County or Freetown, Sierra Leone.
Harris further claimed that another individual, Moses Jallah, later visited his office and showed him photographs of the shipment, Emmanuel Zeon’s passport, the airway bill, airport security documents and the six boxes.
Harris maintained that he knew nothing about the shipment and said Jallah merely warned him that his name would eventually surface in the investigation.
Following the investigation, Ministry of Justice investigators concluded that sufficient evidence exists to prosecute Harris under Liberia’s 2023 drug law and provisions of the Penal Law covering conspiracy, facilitation, solicitation, money laundering and economic sabotage.
The charge sheet recommends that Harris be prosecuted before the appropriate court.
Meanwhile, several senior LNP officers implicated in the broader investigation were also reportedly forwarded to the Paynesville City Magisterial Court.
Journalists were reportedly unable to witness the proceedings involving the officers, unlike Harris’ appearance before the Monrovia City Court. The circumstances have raised questions among some members of the media about transparency and public access to proceedings in the high-profile case.
The case remains under investigation, with authorities examining what they allege was a transnational drug trafficking network involving private individuals and public officials.
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