By Stephen N. Sonpon
MONROVIA, Aug. 19 (LINA)- The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, has charged former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics trafficking network operating within and beyond Liberia.
According to the Minister of Justice, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, the former Liberian Vice President was prevented from departing Liberia through the Roberts International Airport and subsequently taken to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police for questioning and further investigative procedures.
Following a review of evidence presented by a joint national security investigative team, the former Vice President was formally charged with multiple offenses under Liberia’s Controlled Drug and Substance Act of 2023, the Penal Law, and the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law.
The charges under the Controlled Drug and Substance Act include alleged unlicensed importation of a controlled drug or substance under Section 14.83; alleged unlicensed sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, dispatch in transit and transportation of a controlled drug or substance under Section 14.85; and alleged illicit trafficking of a controlled drug or substance under Section 14.19.
Under Chapter 10 of the Penal Law of Liberia, Howard-Taylor has also been charged with criminal solicitation, criminal facilitation and criminal conspiracy, pursuant to Sections 10.2, 10.3 and 10.4, respectively.
The government further accused her of money laundering under Section 15.2 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law.
Meahwhile, the Ministry of Justice has also charged Foreign Nationals in absentia.
According to the Atorney General of Liberia, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, the three alleged members and organizers of the same transnational narcotics network have been charged in absentia.
The three individuals are identified as Nikola Avenci, a Croatian national; Vejolje Vorvik, also a Croatian national; and Tarasenko, a Ukrainian national.
The government said the Ministry of Justice will pursue all lawful domestic and international measures necessary to locate, apprehend and bring the defendants before the courts of the Republic of Liberia.
Meanwhile, former Deputy Director of the National Security Agency for Administration, Gerald Smith, has been called in for questioning in connection with the same investigation.
Government Vows to Dismantle Alleged Network:
The government described the latest actions as a decisive stage in its effort to expose and dismantle what it characterized as a transnational narcotics network, including its alleged leadership, financiers, facilitators, transporters, operational coordinators and institutional protectors.
The Ministry of Justice stressed that the investigation will extend beyond individual arrests and drug seizures, with authorities seeking to uncover the alleged financial, logistical and institutional structures supporting the network.
The government warned that individuals or organizations seeking to corrupt public officials, penetrate state institutions or use Liberia as a transit corridor for illicit narcotics would face the full authority of the law.
Also, the Government emphasized that no political office, connection or nationality would provide immunity from investigation where credible evidence exists.
“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 Justice Minister maintained.
Authorities further pledged to follow the evidence across institutions, political boundaries and national borders, while maintaining that there would be no selective justice or political protection in the prosecution of organized criminality.
Government Urges Public to Avoid Speculation:
Despite the seriousness of the allegations, the government emphasized that the charges remain accusations and do not constitute a determination of guilt.
The Ministry of Justice stressed that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty before a court of competent jurisdiction and are entitled to legal representation, due process and all constitutional and statutory protections guaranteed under Liberian law.
The Ministry of Justice also cautioned the public, political actors and media institutions against speculation, intimidation of witnesses and publication of unverified information that could interfere with the ongoing investigation or prejudice judicial proceedings.
The government said the investigation remains active and sensitive, involving multiple individuals and jurisdictions, and that certain information will therefore not be disclosed if doing so could compromise ongoing operations, endanger cooperating persons or undermine judicial proceedings.
The government declared that Liberia would not be surrendered to drug traffickers or individuals accused of enabling illicit narcotics.