Liberian authorities have charged former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and other offences in connection with an investigation into a transnational narcotics network, the country’s Attorney General said in a statement.
Howard-Taylor, the former wife of convicted former Liberian President Charles Taylor, was stopped while attempting to leave the country at Roberts International Airport and taken to the National Police headquarters, according to the statement.
The charges include unlicensed importation of a controlled substance, criminal solicitation and criminal conspiracy.
Her arrest comes less than a month after Liberian authorities announced the seizure of cocaine worth about $317 million, allegedly destined for Europe, underscoring concerns over Liberia’s growing role in the international drug trade.
A lawyer for Howard-Taylor was not immediately available for comment.
The investigation is ongoing, according to the authorities.
