Former Liberian vice president charged in drug-trafficking probe

Liberia has charged former Vice President Jewel Howard‑Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and a range of other offences, the Justice Ministry announced. Howard‑Taylor, who served as vice president for six years until 2024, was detained earlier while boarding a flight to leave Liberia at Roberts International Airport in Monrovia. She was taken to police headquarters and has not yet made any public comment on the charges. The West African state has launched a major crackdown on transnational drug trades, particularly cocaine trafficking, in recent years. Howard‑Taylor is accused of illegally importing, selling and transporting controlled substances, as well as helping to facilitate drug trafficking. Police have charged three overseas nationals – two Croatians and one Ukrainian – in absentia as part of the investigation. They are alleged to be members of the same network as Howard‑Taylor. Liberian authorities say they are determined to apprehend the overseas nationals and that they are targeting every segment of the drug‑trafficking network, including organisers, facilitators and financiers. In recent months, officials have conducted multiple drug‑trafficking seizures, with several ranking among the largest in the country’s history. Howard‑Taylor held a senior position in former President George Weah’s administration, whose six years in power from 2018 to 2024 were marked by allegations of corruption and fiscal mismanagement. When President Joseph Boakai assumed office, he pledged to crack down on corruption. He has also stated that he does not want Liberia to become a haven for drug trafficking. West Africa is increasingly a major transit route for cocaine moving from South America to Europe.