Former Vice President of Liberia Charged with Drug Trafficking
The Liberian Ministry of Justice has charged the country’s former vice president, Jewel Howard-Taylor, with drug trafficking, money laundering, and other offenses, according to BBC News.
Howard-Taylor, who served as Liberia’s vice president from 2018 to 2024, was detained before boarding a flight out of the country at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia. She was taken to the National Police headquarters. She has not yet publicly commented on the charges.
Investigators accuse the former official of illegally importing, selling, and transporting controlled substances, as well as facilitating drug trafficking. The police also filed charges in absentia against three foreigners—two Croatian citizens and one Ukrainian citizen. According to law enforcement officials, they are believed to be involved in the same network as Howard-Taylor.
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Liberian authorities have announced their intention to track down the three foreigners and crack down on all links in the drug trafficking networks—organizers, intermediaries, and financiers. In recent years, the country has intensified its fight against transnational drug trafficking, particularly cocaine. West Africa is increasingly becoming a transit route for cocaine shipments from South America to Europe.
Jewel Howard-Taylor held a high-ranking position in the administration of former President George Weah. His six-year tenure in office, from 2018 to 2024, was marred by allegations of corruption and mismanagement of public funds. Upon taking office, President Joseph Boakai pledged to step up the fight against corruption and prevent Liberia from becoming a hub for drug trafficking.
