Former Liberia VP held in prison ahead of drug trial

Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor was detained in prison on Tuesday in anticipation of her trial for her alleged involvement in an international drug trafficking network, according to the latest report. Howard-Taylor, who was once married to Charles Taylor, the ex-president of Liberia from 1997 to 2003, was charged last Wednesday with eight counts of involvement in narcotics trafficking.

She was placed in pre-trial detention at Monrovia Central Prison following her initial court appearance on the same day. The charges against her come as part of a government crackdown on drug trafficking, following several major cocaine busts in the country. In July, authorities seized four tonnes of cocaine valued at $317 million, allegedly linked to Howard-Taylor.

Howard-Taylor served as vice president under President George Weah from 2018 to 2024 and was also a prominent senator from 2006 to 2018. The minister of justice reported that she was arrested at Roberts International Airport near Monrovia. She has been formally charged with unlicensed importation, sale, trading, and administration of drugs, as well as illicit trafficking.

Three other individuals, including two Croatians and a Ukrainian, were also charged in the same case in absentia. Howard-Taylor's lawyers had requested that she not be detained while awaiting trial, citing her asthma, but the court denied the request, stating that only the attorney general can grant compassionate leave. The ANC opposition party has expressed concern over the administration's focus on targeting opposition figures and questioned the involvement of individuals connected to the current Unity Party administration.