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Jewel Howard-Taylor among 20 indicted in Liberian drug trafficking case
A grand jury in Montserrado County, Liberia, has issued a sweeping indictment involving approximately 20 individuals in a major transnational drug trafficking and money laundering investigation. The defendants include former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, several foreign nationals, and various current and former security officials.
The indictment alleges an organized operation involving the unlicensed possession, importation, exportation, and sale of controlled substances. It also includes charges of criminal conspiracy, facilitation, and money laundering. Prosecutors allege that Howard-Taylor maintained financial ties with members of an international cocaine-trafficking network, including alleged leader Nikola Ivancic. According to the charging documents, Howard-Taylor received US$15,000 and allegedly sought an additional US$60,000 to cover personal and political expenses.
Several defendants have already been taken into custody. Mark Quiah, the former Deputy Director for Operations at the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, was arrested and sent to the Monrovia Central Prison. Other individuals currently held include Gerald Foley Smith, a former Deputy Director at the National Security Agency. The legal proceedings are ongoing as the court seeks to serve all named defendants.
Entities
Jewel Howard-Taylor · Jewel Starfish Foundation · Liberia · Liberia Civil Aviation Authority · Mark Quiah · Ministry of Justice · Montserrado County · Nikola Ivancic · Sheik Bashiru Kante
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A grand jury has indicted approximately 20 individuals in a major drug trafficking and money laundering case. liberianewsnetwork.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor is among the defendants named in the indictment. liberianewsnetwork.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The indictment includes charges of unlicensed possession, importation, exportation, and sale of controlled drugs. liberianewsnetwork.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Mark Quiah, former Deputy Director for Operations at the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority, was taken into custody. liberianewsnetwork.com · frontpageafricaonline.com