Overview
- Jewel Howard‑Taylor was stopped at Roberts International Airport and was formally charged Wednesday by the Justice Ministry after being invited to report to Liberia National Police investigators.
- The charges name unlicensed importation, sale, distribution and transportation of controlled substances, drug trafficking, criminal solicitation, facilitation, conspiracy and money laundering.
- Three foreign nationals — two Croatians and a Ukrainian — were charged in absentia and officials say they will pursue measures to locate and apprehend them.
- Opposition figures from the Congress for Democratic Change rallied in support of Howard‑Taylor and accused the government of politicizing the probe while officials stressed the charges are allegations and the suspect is presumed innocent.
- The inquiry follows recent high‑value cocaine seizures reported at Roberts International Airport and along the airport highway totaling roughly $336 million and has already prompted security dismissals, heightened police presence and use of new drug and anti‑money‑laundering laws.