The Liberia National Police has formally charged and forwarded to Monrovia City Court Liberian businessman and Private Bar Nightclub Chief Executive Officer George Harris, also known as Leroy Harris, to court over his alleged involvement in an international cocaine trafficking operation that investigators say used Liberia as a transit point to Europe.
Harris is facing multiple charges, including the alleged importation, exportation, transportation and trafficking of controlled substances, criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, money laundering and economic sabotage.
The Ministry of Justice has also charged Paul J. King and Mohammed O. Gbowrah in connection with the case, while several other suspects remain at large.
According to the police charge sheet, the investigation centers on six boxes declared as containing Maggi cubes and lappas. Investigators allege the boxes actually concealed cocaine and were intercepted after security officers at Roberts International Airport noticed irregularities during routine screening and ordered a physical inspection.
The charge sheet further alleges that the shipment contained 198 plates of cocaine and was destined for London aboard a Brussels Airlines flight.
Joint Security Investigators further claim that the network used fictitious company names and falsified shipping documents to move the drugs through Liberia.
Prosecutors also allege that members of the network attempted to influence airport security personnel through phone calls and cash offers in an effort to secure the release of the seized shipment.
The charge sheet claims Harris contacted officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) assigned at the airport through WhatsApp, while others allegedly sought to persuade security personnel to release the cargo.
During questioning, Harris denied knowing the details of the shipment.
According to the charge sheet, he told investigators that he had been contacted by acquaintances who asked him to reach out to people he knew at the airport, maintaining that he was unaware of the nature of the cargo.
The investigation, amongst other things revealed that its investigation uncovered evidence linking several Liberian and foreign nationals to the alleged trafficking network and believes the evidence is sufficient to prosecute those accused.
The case has now been forwarded to court for trial.
