Private Bar Owner Faces Major Narcotics Charges - As Drug Network Probe Widens

By Elbie Pannoh

MONROVIA: The Liberia National Police (LNP) has formally charged Leroy Harries, owner of Private Bar Night Club in Paynesville, in connection with the country's high-profile US$317 million cocaine trafficking investigation, as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle what they describe as a sophisticated transnational drug network.

The disclosure was made by Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah during the ministry’s regular press briefing on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, at the Charles Gbenyon Hall.
According to Minister Piah, Harries faces a raft of serious criminal charges, including criminal conspiracy, criminal facilitation, criminal solicitation, illegal possession of unlicensed illicit substances, unlicensed importation of illicit drugs, money laundering, trafficking, trading and sale of narcotics, as well as economic sabotage.

The minister said, the latest charges mark another significant development in the government's expanding investigation into one of Liberia's largest narcotics cases, emphasizing that the operation extends far beyond the seizure of cocaine.

"The investigation remains active, and additional arrests are expected as security agencies continue to identify and pursue other individuals allegedly connected to the drug trafficking network," Piah disclosed.

He stressed that the government's objective is not merely to prosecute those found with narcotics but to dismantle the entire criminal enterprise allegedly responsible for financing, transporting, storing and distributing the illicit drugs.

Providing further details, Piah revealed that security agencies also launched an investigation into a suspicious vessel believed to be linked to the trafficking operation.

According to him, the vessel reportedly moved into deeper waters before law enforcement officers could intercept it. However, Liberian authorities have since initiated a coordinated regional effort with international partners to locate the vessel and determine its connection to the ongoing investigation.

The minister further disclosed that several other individuals remain in police custody and are undergoing questioning as investigators continue gathering evidence.

He reaffirmed the government's determination to identify, arrest and prosecute every individual allegedly connected to the transnational narcotics network, regardless of status or affiliation.

Piah added that the charges against Harries specifically relate to the alleged possession, trafficking, distribution and sale of cocaine, in addition to criminal conspiracy and criminal facilitation.

The case forms part of the broader investigation into the massive cocaine seizure that has heightened public concern over the growing influence of international drug trafficking syndicates operating in Liberia.

Authorities maintain that the investigation is ongoing and have indicated that further developments are expected as evidence continues to emerge.

The Liberia National Police has not publicly disclosed the evidence supporting the charges against Harries.

Under Liberian law, the charges remain allegations, and Harries, like all other accused persons, is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.