Jewel Howard Taylor, Barred from Leaving Liberia over National Drug Probe

Former Liberian Vice President – Jewel Howard Taylor, has been stopped from leaving the country and directed to report to the Liberia National Police, as authorities expands a national investigation into suspected drug and cocaine trafficking.

Taylor was intercepted at Roberts International Airport as he was preparing to travel to Accra, Ghana, where she was expected to attend a women’s forum. Joint security personnel reportedly informed her that she was not permitted to leave Liberia and instructed her to report to the police for questioning. Taylor confirmed the development in a statement released on Wednesday, saying she was on her way to Accra when airport authorities halted her from leave the country. “I have been asked to report to the police station. I am on my way there now”, she said.

Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah confirmed the travel restriction, saying Taylor had been identified as a person of interest, in an ongoing national drug investigation.

The development places a former holder of one of Liberia’s highest political offices, at the central-focus of a sensitive investigation, with implications extending farther than the case in question. Liberian government is probing this case with the determination to confront the drug trade within the country; and demonstrate that investigations can also affect prominent political figures.

Drug trafficking has suddenly been linked to concerns bothering on addiction, petty crime, youth unemployment and the vulnerability of communities where illicit drugs is both a source of income/pathway to socioeconomic instability. Therefore, a reliable investigation process that ropes-in high repute political elite, could be part of a great fight to protect the security and economic future of Liberian youths.

Besides, the government is facing the challenge of maintaining public confidence, clearing perceptions that the investigation is politically motivated. Taylor’s status as a former vice president and prominent political figure, means that every step taken by investigators is likely to attract intense public scrutiny.

From economic purview, Liberia’s struggle with illicit drugs, intersects with concerns about money laundering, informal financial networks and the use of legitimate businesses to conceal criminal proceeds. An unrelenting clampdown could strengthen the country’s security institutions and international reputation. But with allegations involving senior political figures, the investigation could escalate political tensions, if the process is not handled transparently.

The Liberian communities and general public would expect that the investigation will produce clear justice, more than just being canvassed as a news headlines. Furthermore, the society is likely to judge the investigation teams, based on their ability/capacity to unveil the networks behind the drugs’ sales, identify their financing sources; be able to protect vulnerable communities and ensure that prosecutions are based on evidences, rather than political influence.

Taylor has not been publicly accused of a crime in the information released so far. And being named a person-of-interest, does not establish that she is guilty. Therefore, her interrogation sessions and subsequent legal actions will be closely watched, for the sake of having the taskforce authorities’ adhere to due process.

Nevertheless, the airport interception of Taylor’s trip to Ghana, has refaced the drug investigation to a flash of political undertone-colouration, for Liberia. This case will challenge the government’s anti-narcotics taskforce, on the determination and ability to carry out a fearlessly-unintimidated investigation, without compromising fairness, transparency or the rule of law.