In a development that has shocked the West African nation, Liberia’s Justice Ministry announced on 20 August that former Vice‑President Jewel Howard‑Taylor had been charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and related offences.
Howard‑Taylor, who served alongside President George Weah from 2018 to 2024, was detained just before boarding a flight from Roberts International Airport in Monrovia. Authorities then transferred her to national police headquarters; she has not yet made any public comments.
The charges revolve around her alleged role in importing, selling, and transporting controlled drugs — mainly cocaine — and facilitating the broader trafficking network. Police have already detained three foreign nationals, two from Croatia and one from Ukraine, who are considered part of the same ring.
This case follows a recent period of heightened law‑enforcement activity in Liberia, which has claimed to conduct some of the largest drug seizures in its history. The country has pledged to curb corruption and prevent becoming a transit hub for cocaine moving from South America to Europe.
