In brief
The justice ministry of Liberia has charged former Vice‑President Jewel Howard‑Taylor with illegal drug importation, sales, and transportation, along with money‑laundering offences. She was seized at Roberts International Airport before boarding a flight, and remains silent on the allegations. Police have also named three foreign nationals in absentia as part of a broader investigation into a transnational trafficking network. The case follows a push by President Joseph Boakai to root out corruption and stop drug‑trafficking hubs in the country.
Liberia’s justice ministry has announced that its former Vice‑President, Jewel Howard‑Taylor, has been charged with a series of criminal offences, including the illegal importation, sale, and transportation of controlled drugs, as well as money‑laundering and other related crimes.
Howard‑Taylor, who served under President George Weah from 2018 to 2024, was detained in plain sight by authorities at Roberts International Airport just before she boarded a departure flight. She has yet to respond publicly to the charges brought against her.
The investigation extends beyond Howard‑Taylor. Police have identified three foreign nationals – two from Croatia and one from Ukraine – as members of the same trafficking network, charging them in absentia for their roles in facilitating the operation.
The case comes at a time when Liberia has intensified its fight against transnational drug trade, especially cocaine shipments from South America destined for European markets. President Joseph Boakai, who succeeded Weah, pledged to crack down on corruption and prevent drug traffickers from establishing footholds in the country. The government’s recent actions signal a broader effort to deter illicit trade and maintain domestic security.
