On Multiple Drug Trafficking Charges, Allegations She Has Strongly Denied
PHOTO: Madam Jewel Howard Taylor, Liberia former Vice President
By Our Staff Writer
Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor is spending her first night in jail at the Monrovia Central Prison on drug trafficking charges, several days after she was formally charged by the Liberian government and a brief stay in a local hospital after fallen ill.
Her incarceration followed her appearance earlier today, Tuesday, August 25, 2026, at the Monrovia City Court at the Temple of Justice on multiple charges allegedly linking her to international narcotics network including unlicensed import of narcotic drugs, money laundering, etc that has to do with over US$300 million cocaine bust.
But the former wife of jailed ex-President Charles Ghankay Taylor, Madam Howard-Taylor has denied the allegations.
In a strongly-worded statement from her office over the weekend, the former Vice President in the CDC government of ex-President George Weah tood the ruling Unity Party government to task for what she considers as political intimidation and dismissing charges of her alleged involvement in transnational drugs trafficking. “GUILT BY ASSOCIATION?”: Ex-VP Jewel Taylor Denying Link To Drug Trafficking Network, But Hints Of Associating With Unnamed Element (s) – News Public Trust
Her appearance in Tuesday had to be delayed on what is legally called compassionate grounds and that was after she fell ill while in the Liberia National Police custody on Capitol Hill in central Monrovia.
Last week, the Justice Ministry arrested Madam Howard-Taylor while she was enroute to the Roberts International Airport to leave the country for neibouring Ghana.
But Justice Minister, Cllr. Oswald Tweh said:
“Following investigative procedures and a review of evidence presented by the Joint National Security Investigative Team, she has been charged with the following offenses:
UNDER THE CONTROLLED DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ACT OF 2023
- Violation of Section 14.83: Unlicensed Importation of a Controlled Drug or Substance;
- Violation of Section 14.85: Unlicensed Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution, Dispatch in Transit and Transportation of a Controlled Drug or Substance; and
- Violation of Section 14.93: Illicit Trafficking of a Controlled Drug or Substance,” said a
Justice Ministry statement. Liberian Gov’t Confirms Ex-VP Jewel Taylor Arrested & “Formally Charged”, Allegedly Linked To “Transnational Narcotic Trafficking Network” – News Public Trust