JUSTICE MINISTRY NAMES 10 PERSONS OF INTEREST IN US$19.2M RIA DRUG BUST
BY: Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
MONROVIA, Montserrado County,– The Ministry of Justice has named 10 persons of interest in connection with the US$19.2 million narcotics shipment seized at Roberts International Airport, as investigators probe what Justice Minister Cllr. Oswald Tweh described as lapses across multiple stages of the airport’s cargo handling chain.
Disclosing the list Friday during a delayed Press briefing, Cllr. Tweh said evidence gathered to date shows the shipment moved through several operational points at RIA before detection.
“Evidence obtained to date indicates that the shipment passed through multiple stages of the cargo handling chain,” he told reporters 44 minutes after the scheduled 4:00PM update.
According to the Ministry, the individuals listed as persons of interest include staff from RIA, ground handling companies, and private transport operators:
Philip Yeoh – Security Manager, GLS Menzies at RIA
Festus S. Musa – Cargo Handler, GLS Menzies
Ruth Gbapaywhea – Scanner Agent, RIA
Archie Nyanfor – Cargo Handler, Express Handling Services
Arthur B. Abdullai – Chief Executive Officer, Express Handling Services
Geraldine Zeon – Scanner Agent, RIA
Mohammed Gbowrah – Security Director, Roberts International Airport
Paul J. King – Chief Executive Officer, GLS Menzies
Oscar Browne – Chief of Intelligence, RIA Security
Emmanuel T. Zeon – Transporter, Express Handling Services
The Ministry emphasized that being named a person of interest does not imply guilt or criminal charges.
It means investigators are seeking information from these individuals as the probe continues.
Multi-Stage Breach Under Investigation
Cllr. Tweh’s disclosure marks the first official confirmation that the narcotics did not bypass RIA systems at a single point.
RIA’s cargo process typically involves customs inspection by the Liberia Revenue Authority, ground handling by companies like GLS Menzies and Express Handling Services, warehousing, and airline/forwarding agent checks.
Sources close to the investigation say customs officers, ground handling staff, and airport security personnel are among those being questioned to determine where oversight failed.
The US$19.2 million seizure, announced earlier this month, ranks among Liberia’s largest drug busts.
It has intensified national debate on airport security, customs enforcement, and inter-agency coordination at the country’s main gateway.
The case has also revived calls for accountability after Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah pledged the Boakai administration would not “bury” the matter like previous high-profile drug cases.
With Liberia grappling with rising drug abuse among youth, the outcome of this investigation is being watched as a test of the administration’s commitment to justice sector reform and transparency.
The Ministry of Justice said investigations remain ongoing and promised further updates as evidence develops.
KMTV Liberia will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as the Ministry releases new information.