Howard-Taylor Faces Arrest

Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and 19 others face arrest warrants in Liberia's largest narcotics case. They are accused of drug trafficking and money laundering.

The arrest warrants follow a True Bill of Indictment returned by the Special Grand Jury for Montserrado County. The indictment is connected to the alleged US$317 million cocaine trafficking case.

Criminal Court 'C' has issued writs of arrest for the individuals named in the amended indictment. This moves the high-profile narcotics case into its next judicial phase.

The action follows the return of a True Bill of Indictment by the Special Grand Jury against 20 individuals. They are charged with alleged unlicensed importation of controlled substances, illicit trafficking, and money laundering.

Judicial records confirm that the case file has been transferred from the Monrovia City Court to Criminal Court 'C'. This is the court of exclusive original jurisdiction for first-degree felony drug offenses under Liberia's 2023 Amended Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Several of the 20 defendants named in the amended indictment are already in custody. The remaining defendants have been declared at large. The Liberia National Police and the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency are responsible for enforcing the warrants.

The prosecution alleges that the indictment stems from a months-long investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network. This follows the Government of Liberia's announcement in July 2026 of the seizure of approximately four metric tons of cocaine.

Presiding Judge of Criminal Court 'C', His Honor Ousman F. Feika, ordered the issuance of the capias writs to secure the appearance of all accused persons to answer to the indictment.