The Joint National Security Investigation Team, under the Ministry of Justice, has announced that Philip Yeoh Jr. has been formally charged in connection with the attempted shipment of suspected illicit drugs through Roberts International Airport. The case centers on six cargo boxes declared as general cargo and bound for the United Kingdom. During security screening and a physical inspection, officers discovered a white powdery substance suspected to be illicit drugs. Yeoh Jr., an employee of Global Logistics Services/Menzies, was questioned in the presence of legal counsel and informed of his Constitutional rights. Investigators allege that after being notified of the discovery he communicated with a co-defendant and took part in efforts to negotiate the release of the consignment.
The seizure itself has become one of Liberia’s largest narcotics interceptions in recent years. On June 8, 2026, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency confirmed that 198 compressed plates of cocaine weighing 237.6 kilograms were found concealed in six cargo boxes at the RIA cargo terminal. Authorities estimated the street value at US$19.2 million. The shipment was being processed for an outbound Brussels Airlines flight to Europe. LDEA Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald T.M. Biago described the bust as evidence of improved interagency coordination and intelligence-driven operations, warning that “Liberia is not a transit point, marketplace, or safe haven for drug traffickers”. The case has also triggered broader scrutiny of cargo handling procedures and airport security systems.
Based on evidence gathered, Yeoh Jr. now faces charges of criminal facilitation, criminal solicitation, criminal conspiracy, and concealing property derived from a drug offense under Chapter 10, Sections 10.2, 10.3, and 10.4 of the Revised Penal Law, and Chapter 14, Section 14.95 of the Amended Controlled Drug and Substance Act of 2023. He has been forwarded for prosecution before a court of competent jurisdiction. In a related development, George Wha Harris has been identified as a person of interest. He was questioned by the Joint Team, arrested for unruly conduct during the investigation, and has since been released into the custody of his legal representative as inquiries continue.
The investigation has expanded in recent weeks. Government prosecutors have formally charged seven suspects, including GLS Operations Manager Paul J. King and the logistics company itself, alleging conspiracy to facilitate, store and transport the six-box consignment through RIA’s cargo chain. Michael U.S. Browne, also known as Rahim or Raheem Bah, was charged in absentia for allegedly organizing the shipment, using bogus front companies, and attempting to recover the drugs after they were intercepted. The House of Representatives has also summoned LDEA, Justice, Customs and airport authorities to explain the handling of the case and to disclose the identities of suspects, citing concerns over border security and public accountability.
The Joint National Security Investigation Team underscores that all charges remain subject to judicial and investigative processes. Every person accused is presumed innocent unless proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Investigators say the case is transnational in scope and requires careful chain-of-custody verification, forensic analysis, and intelligence coordination before further disclosures are made. The team added that additional persons may be invited, questioned, or charged where evidence establishes a lawful basis.
Authorities are urging the public to avoid speculation and to rely only on official updates from the Joint National Security Investigation Team. The team reaffirmed its commitment to a professional, impartial and evidence-based investigation, and to ensuring that all persons connected to the matter are treated in accordance with the law and due process.
