MONROVIA, LIBERIA — Former President George Manneh Weah has strongly condemned the arrest and detention of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, accusing President Joseph Boakai’s administration of using Liberia’s ongoing drug investigations to target political opponents.
In a statement issued Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Weah described the government’s action against his former vice president as evidence of what he called Liberia’s continuing “democratic decline” and rising authoritarianism under the Boakai administration.
Howard-Taylor was stopped at Roberts International Airport while attempting to leave Liberia and subsequently taken to the headquarters of the Liberia National Police.
The Ministry of Justice says she faces charges including drug trafficking, money laundering, criminal conspiracy, criminal solicitation and the unlicensed importation, sale, distribution and transportation of controlled substances. Three foreign nationals have also reportedly been charged in absentia in connection with the alleged transnational narcotics network. Reuters
But Weah maintained that Howard-Taylor was prevented from traveling without prior notice and subjected to what he described as unlawful harassment and detention.
The former president said he spoke with Howard-Taylor following the incident and that she “vehemently, strenuously and categorically” denied the allegations against her.
Weah also criticized Justice Minister and Attorney General Oswald Tweh, claiming the government announced broad accusations without publicly explaining the evidence supporting them.
While expressing support for legitimate efforts to combat Liberia’s growing drug crisis, Weah warned against using the investigation for political advantage.
“We support all legal and judicious efforts to rid Liberia of the current drug epidemic,” Weah stated. “We condemn attempts to use this crisis to score political points.”
He further accused the government of attempting to connect major cocaine seizures recorded under the Boakai administration to officials of the former CDC-led government. Weah claimed the authorities have treated current government and security officials implicated in the investigations more leniently.
The accusations come amid heightened public concern over two major cocaine seizures in Liberia. Government figures place the combined estimated value of the drugs at more than US$336 million, although Weah described the total as nearly half a billion dollars.
The government has rejected suggestions of selective prosecution, declaring that the investigation will proceed without political interference or protection for any suspect. Authorities have also stressed that everyone charged remains entitled to due process and the presumption of innocence.
Weah disclosed that he has been engaging regional and continental leaders about what he considers threats to Liberia’s rule of law, democracy, peace and security.
The former president announced that he would return to Liberia following those engagements to mobilize the Congress for Democratic Change and other Liberians against the government’s actions.
“President Boakai seeks to rule as a tyrant. This we must all resist,” Weah declared.
He said the CDC would employ political and legal measures permitted under the Liberian Constitution. Weah, who governed Liberia from 2018 to 2024, has already announced his intention to contest the 2029 presidential election.
Neither Howard-Taylor nor the other individuals accused in the investigation has been convicted. The allegations against them will have to be established through Liberia’s judicial process.
