MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Global Logistics Services Operations Manager Paul Jamaal King will face trial in Criminal Court “C” after a Monrovia City Court magistrate ruled that there is enough evidence to proceed in the alleged US$19.2 million cocaine trafficking case.
Stipendiary Magistrate Cllr. Ben Barco made the ruling Wednesday following weeks of preliminary examination into the attempted export of 237.6 kilograms of cocaine through Roberts International Airport.
The Ministry of Justice and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency presented two lead investigators: LDEA Chief Investigator Col. Moses L. Meah and Liberia National Police Anti-Narcotics Superintendent Joseph M. Kaiffa.
According to their testimony, the cocaine was hidden in six boxes falsely labeled as “lappas and Maggi cubes.” Prosecutors allege the shipment was arranged through Global Logistics Services for export to the United Kingdom.
Key evidence presented included air waybills, receipts, witness statements, photos of the boxes, King’s written statement, the police charge sheet, and samples of the seized drugs.
Investigators testified that they traced the shipment to King’s residence and alleged he instructed Arthur Abdullah of Express Handling Services to prepare the shipping documents.
Airport security flagged the cargo after noticing a discrepancy between the declared weight and actual weight. A physical inspection allegedly revealed the cocaine. Prosecutors further claimed that after the seizure, King tried to have the consignment returned, but authorities refused.
Defense lawyers pushed back on parts of the prosecution’s case, questioning the investigation process, chain of custody for evidence, and the status of co-defendant Michael U.S. Brown.
The court sustained some procedural objections. However, both prosecution witnesses stood by their testimony linking King and others to the alleged trafficking operation.
After reviewing the evidence and hearing final arguments, Magistrate Barco ruled that prosecutors had met the legal threshold of probable cause required at the preliminary stage.
King and other defendants are charged with unlicensed exportation, possession, transportation, facilitation, trafficking of controlled substances, criminal conspiracy, and criminal solicitation under Liberia’s drug and penal laws.
With the probable cause finding, the case will now move to Criminal Court “C” for trial. There, prosecutors must prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Court Finds Probable Cause in US$19.2M Cocaine Case, Paul King to Face Trial
