‘Let the Government Show Its Evidence’: Ex- Liberian VP, Howard-Taylor Rejects Drug Trafficking Allegations
Former Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has strongly denied allegations of drug trafficking and related offences brought against her by the country’s Minister of Justice, describing the accusations as baseless and politically motivated.
In a statement issued by her office on Saturday, Howard-Taylor said she rejected the allegations in their entirety and maintained that she had never participated in, facilitated, financed or concealed any drug trafficking operation or criminal network.
The former vice president’s statement followed an incident on August 19, when she was reportedly stopped at Roberts International Airport while preparing to travel to Accra, Ghana, where she was scheduled to deliver a keynote address.
According to her office, Howard-Taylor had received no prior notice that she was under investigation and had not been summoned for questioning. It said authorities subsequently sought to link her to individuals allegedly being investigated for transnational criminal activities, based on official engagements she had undertaken while serving as vice president.
The statement argued that contacts and engagements conducted in the course of official duties should not be construed as evidence of involvement in criminal activities.
Howard-Taylor’s office further alleged that she had offered to voluntarily report to police headquarters with her lawyers. However, it said her vehicle was intercepted on the Congo Town Back-road while she was travelling to meet her legal team, after which she was escorted to police headquarters and charged in the presence of her lawyers.
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The former vice president questioned the manner in which the authorities handled the matter, arguing that her willingness to cooperate with investigators should have been respected.
Her office also raised concerns over alleged plans by individuals within the government to use artificial intelligence to fabricate audio and visual recordings that could be presented as evidence against her.
It described the allegation as a serious development and said any material suspected to have been artificially manufactured would be subjected to independent forensic examination.
Howard-Taylor accused elements within the government of attempting to turn legitimate law enforcement concerns into a political weapon, arguing that the timing and circumstances surrounding the case raised questions about whether the investigation was genuinely intended to establish the truth.
She described the case as a politically motivated “witch-hunt” and an abuse of state power, while calling for the investigation to be conducted transparently and on the basis of credible evidence.
Despite the allegations, Howard-Taylor said she would confront the case through legal channels and defend her record and integrity.
“She will stand. She will fight. And she will defend the truth,” the statement declared.
The former vice president also called on the Liberian government to respect due process and allow the courts to determine the facts of the case, urging citizens to remain calm while insisting that calm should not prevent the public from demanding justice.
“Let the Government present its evidence. Let the courts do their work. Let the truth be tested in the open,” her office said.
Howard-Taylor, who served as Liberia’s vice president from 2018 to 2024, said she remained confident that the truth would prevail and reiterated that she had nothing to hide.
Her office said further verified information would be released as appropriate.
