Liberia has charged former vice‑president Jewel Howard‑Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and related offences after detaining her at Roberts International Airport. Prosecutors allege she helped import, sell and transport controlled drugs and aided a transnational trafficking network. Authorities have also charged two Croatians and one Ukrainian in absentia and say they are pursuing all organisers, facilitators and financiers amid a wider crackdown on cocaine routes through West Africa.
Ex‑Liberian Vice‑President Jewel Howard‑Taylor Detained at Airport, Charged in Drug‑Trafficking and Money‑Laundering Probe
Jewel Cianeh Taylor was Vice President of Liberia from 2018 to 2024 [NurPhoto via Getty Images]
Liberia's Justice Ministry has charged former vice‑president Jewel Howard‑Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and a series of related offences, officials announced after detaining her at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia.
Howard‑Taylor, who served as vice‑president from 2018 until 2024, was stopped as she prepared to board an outgoing flight and was taken to the national police headquarters. She has not yet made a public statement in response to the allegations.
What Authorities Allege
Prosecutors say Howard‑Taylor was involved in importing, selling and transporting controlled substances and in facilitating the movement of drugs across borders. The charges form part of a broader investigation into transnational trafficking networks operating through Liberia and the wider West African region.
Police have also filed charges in absentia against three foreign nationals — two Croatians and one Ukrainian — whom they say were part of the same network. Liberian authorities said they are actively pursuing those suspects and are targeting all links in the criminal chain, from organisers and facilitators to financiers.
Crackdown and Regional Context
In recent months law‑enforcement agencies in Liberia have carried out multiple seizures of illegal drugs, with some described by officials as among the largest in the country's history. The government says these actions are part of an intensified crackdown on cocaine trafficking and other transnational drug trades that increasingly use West Africa as a transit corridor from South America to Europe.
Howard‑Taylor previously held a senior role in the administration of former President George Weah, whose 2018–2024 term drew repeated accusations of corruption and financial mismanagement. Since taking office, President Joseph Boakai has pledged to take a tougher stance on corruption and has warned he will not allow Liberia to become a safe haven for traffickers.
Investigations are ongoing and authorities have not released further details about evidence or court proceedings. The case is likely to draw close public and international scrutiny given Howard‑Taylor's high profile and the regional implications of the alleged network.
Help us improve.
