Liberia's former Vice-President Jewel Howard-Taylor charged in drug-trafficking probe - BBC News

Jewel Howard-Taylor was arrested at Liberia's international airport and has not commented on the allegations.

Image source, NurPhoto via Getty ImagesImage caption, Jewel Howard-Taylor served as vice-president of Liberia from 2018 to 2024

Liberia has charged former Vice-President Jewel Howard-Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and a range of other offences as part of an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network.

She was detained on Wednesday before being able to board a flight at Roberts International Airport in the capital, Monrovia, the country's justice ministry confirmed.

Police chief Gregory Coleman has linked her to the seizure last month of cocaine valued at $317m (£233m).

The 63-year-old politician has yet to make any public comment about the allegations. Her lawyer told the BBC he could not comment until Howard-Taylor was formally charged in court.