By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Paul J. King—General Manager of GLS Menzies and previously named as a person of interest in the June 8 $US19.2 million cocaine bust at Roberts International Airport—has voluntarily presented himself to authorities and is now in custody.
King is being held under the supervision of the Joint National Security Investigative Task Force and has pledged full cooperation with investigators as they work to unravel the entire criminal network behind the shipment. The seizure, which involved approximately 237.6 kilograms of cocaine, has drawn national and international attention, prompting a wide-ranging probe into the importation, concealment, transportation, and attempted exportation of the narcotics.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Justice, King’s cooperation is expected to assist the Task Force in identifying the full chain of individuals and entities linked to the operation. While his status as a person of interest remains, the Ministry emphasized that this designation—and his current collaboration with investigators—does not constitute a determination of guilt.
The Government of Liberia has commended King’s voluntary surrender as a positive step toward full accountability. The Ministry reiterated that, in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Liberia, King will receive all legal protections afforded to persons in custody, including due process, access to legal counsel, and safeguarding from intimidation, mistreatment, or extrajudicial action.
“We are committed to a thorough, evidence-based, and impartial investigation that follows the facts wherever they lead—regardless of position, influence, or status,” the Ministry stated.
In light of this development, authorities have renewed their call for all remaining persons of interest who continue to evade the Task Force to turn themselves in without further delay. National and international efforts to locate and apprehend all outstanding individuals connected to the case remain active, with the Ministry warning that “time will not diminish the reach of the law.”
On Friday, June 19, 2026, Justice Minister Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh publicly identified ten individuals linked to the interception of the cocaine. Speaking at a Friday news conference at the Ministry of Justice in Mamba Point, Minister Tweh named a roster of airport personnel and company executives allegedly complicit in the elaborate smuggling scheme.
Those identified include Philip Yeoh, Security Manager at GLS Menzies; Festus S. Musa, a cargo handler for the same firm; Ruth Gbapaywhea and Geraldine Zeon, both scanner agents at the 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 the airport.
Three additional suspects remain at large: Paul J. King, CEO of GLS Menzies; Oscar Browne, Chief of Intelligence for RIA Security; and Emmanuel T. Zeon, a transporter for Express Handling Services. The case originates from a June 8 interception when authorities discovered 198 compressed plates of cocaine weighing approximately 237.6 kilograms hidden inside six cargo boxes destined for Europe via Brussels Airlines.
