According to Reuters, authorities say Howard-Taylor was stopped at Roberts International Airport while attempting to leave Liberia and was taken to police headquarters.
She faces allegations including drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal conspiracy and the unlicensed importation of controlled substances.
The case comes just weeks after Liberian authorities announced the seizure of an estimated $317 million worth of cocaine reportedly destined for Europe.
Howard-Taylor served as Liberia’s vice president from 2018 to 2024 and remains a prominent political figure. Her connection to Charles Taylor, who was convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal adds another extraordinary dimension to the case.
The allegations have not been proven in court, and Howard-Taylor has not publicly responded to the charges.
The investigation also raises a bigger question for Liberia: Is the country becoming a major transit route for the global cocaine trade and how far does the network reach?
