Former Liberian vice president charged in drug-trafficking probe
Jewel Howard-Taylor faces charges of illegally facilitating, importing and selling drugs, alongside money laundering.
Liberia's Justice Ministry has announced that Jewel Howard-Taylor, who served as the nation's Vice President from 2018 to 2024, faces charges including drug trafficking and money laundering.
Howard-Taylor was apprehended at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia while attempting to board a flight out of the country. She was subsequently taken to national police headquarters and has not yet issued any public statement regarding the accusations.
The former Vice President is specifically accused of the unlawful importation, sale, and transportation of controlled substances, in addition to aiding drug trafficking operations. These charges come amidst a significant push by the West African nation to combat transnational drug networks, particularly those involved in cocaine trafficking.
As part of the ongoing investigation, authorities have also charged three foreign nationals – two Croatians and one Ukrainian – in absentia. These individuals are alleged to be connected to the same network as Howard-Taylor. Liberian officials have expressed their resolve to apprehend these foreign nationals and to dismantle all facets of the drug-trafficking network, including its organizers, facilitators, and financiers.
In recent months, Liberia has seen several substantial drug seizures, some of which are among the largest in the country's history.
Howard-Taylor held a prominent position in the administration of former President George Weah, whose six-year tenure from 2018 to 2024 was marked by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement. Upon assuming office, President Joseph Boakai committed to tackling corruption and has voiced his determination to prevent Liberia from becoming a sanctuary for drug trafficking. West Africa has increasingly become a critical transit point for cocaine moving from South America to Europe.