Liberia, Aug. 6 -- Liberia's Joint Security on Wednesday sealed off the Private Bar Entertainment Center in Paynesville, closing the establishment to the public as its owner, George Leroy Harris, came under investigation in connection with one of the country's largest cocaine trafficking cases.

The operation, conducted in the Joe Bar Community, followed Harris being identified by investigators as a suspect in the July 21 seizure of 3,971 kilograms (8,754 lbs.) of cocaine valued at an estimated US$317 million. The drugs were intercepted in Duazon near Roberts International Airport.

The closure came less than 24 hours after authorities publicly linked Harris to the case. Journalists arriving at the scene found heavily armed security offic...