Jewel Howard-Taylor, who served as Liberia's vice president for six years until early 2024, has been charged with drug trafficking, money laundering, and a range of other offenses, the country's Justice Ministry announced.
Howard-Taylor was detained at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia as she attempted to depart the country. She was subsequently taken to national police headquarters. As of the announcement, she had not made any public statements regarding the charges.
The charges stem from an investigation into alleged illegal importation, sale, and transportation of controlled drugs, as well as facilitating drug trafficking activities. The Liberian government has stated its commitment to dismantling all facets of drug-trafficking networks, including organizers, facilitators, and financiers.
Three foreign nationals—two Croatians and one Ukrainian—have also been charged in absentia as part of the same investigation, accused of involvement in the network alongside Howard-Taylor. Liberian authorities have indicated their determination to apprehend these individuals.
West Africa has become an increasingly significant transit route for cocaine moving from South America to Europe. In recent years, Liberia has intensified its efforts to combat transnational drug trades, particularly cocaine trafficking. These efforts have resulted in multiple drug seizure operations, some of which are described as among the largest in the country's history.
Howard-Taylor held a prominent position in the administration of former President George Weah, whose tenure from 2018 to 2024 was marked by allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement. Upon taking office, President Joseph Boakai pledged to implement a crackdown on corruption and prevent Liberia from becoming a haven for drug trafficking.
