The rule of law is finally catching up to Liberia's political elite. Former Vice-President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who served as deputy to George Weah from 2018 to 2024, was arrested at Roberts International Airport while attempting to board a flight.
She now faces a laundry list of charges, including unlicensed drug importation, money laundering, and criminal facilitation. Police chief Gregory Coleman has directly linked the 63-year-old politician to a staggering $317 million cocaine seizure that occurred last month.
This arrest is part of a broader, necessary effort to dismantle a sophisticated transnational narcotics network that has been using West Africa as a transit hub for South American drugs headed to Europe.
The Liberian government has made it clear that no political office or connection provides immunity from the law, as they continue to hunt for other suspects, including foreign nationals from Croatia and Ukraine.
This crackdown follows a series of massive drug busts, including a four-tonne haul in July that exposed the depth of criminal involvement within the region.
By targeting not just the foot soldiers but the financiers and organizers of these operations, Liberian officials are finally demonstrating that the law applies to everyone, regardless of their past status in the halls of power.
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