Liberia’s government charged former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor (2018–2024, ex-wife of Charles Taylor) with drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal conspiracy and related offenses following her arrest on August 19 while attempting to leave the country via Roberts International Airport. Three foreign nationals (two Croatian, one Ukrainian) were charged in absentia in the same transnational narcotics network probe. Authorities say the case is separate from a recent $317 million cocaine seizure bound for Europe.