Former Vice President Arrested Over $317m Cocaine Network

Liberia has charged former vice president, Jewel Howard Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering and other offences in an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotic network.

Howard Taylor, 63, was detained on Wednesday at Roberts international airport in Monrovia while trying to board an international flight, the justice ministry confirmed.

Police chief, Gregory Coleman linked her to the seizure last of cocaine valued at $317m. She has not publicly commented on the allegation, while her lawyer told newsmen she could not comment on the matter until she was formerly charged to court.

Howard is Ex wife to former liberian president, Charles Taylor.

Three foreign nationals, two Croatians and one Ukrainian, have also been charged in absentia over alleged connection with the drug network. Justice minister Oswald tweh said authorities would use domestic and international measures to locate and arrest them.

The investigation has since extended expanded to senior security figures as authority seek to identify alleged traffickers, financiers, organisers and those accused of protecting the operation. 

“No office is too high, no political connection is too powerful, no nationality provides immunity, and no individual is beyond the reach of the law,” the government said.