MONROVIA, Liberia — A police charge sheet filed against former Liberian Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor alleges that she participated in meetings with members of a suspected transnational cocaine-trafficking network, agreed to help make Liberia a transit point for cocaine and received three payments totaling US$135,000.

The allegations are contained in documents prepared by a Joint Special Investigation Team operating under Liberia’s Ministry of Justice. The charge sheet, dated August 19, 2026, lists nine offenses against Howard-Taylor, including illicit trafficking, criminal conspiracy, money laundering and aiding the consummation of a crime.

Howard-Taylor has denied the accusations through her office, describing them as baseless and politically motivated. The claims in the charge sheet are prosecution allegations that have not yet been proven in court.

Alleged network established in 2021

According to the government’s account, the case began in 2021 when Sheik Bashiru Kante allegedly brought two foreign nationals to Liberia: Taras Zadereiko, also identified as “Tony,” and Mihovil Vrovac, also identified as “Michael.”

Investigators allege that the three men conspired to import cocaine into Liberia and export it from the country to Europe.

The charge sheet claims that Zadereiko, Vrovac and their associates later decided to contact senior Liberian government officials who could allegedly protect their organized trafficking operation.

It alleges that Kante introduced Zadereiko and Vrovac to Howard-Taylor in early 2022, when she was serving as Liberia’s vice president. The government describes Kante as a close associate of Howard-Taylor, but the charge sheet does not explain the origin or nature of that alleged relationship.

Meeting allegedly held at Taylor’s residence

Prosecutors claim Howard-Taylor subsequently met Kante, Zadereiko and Vrovac at her Sophie community residence in Congo Town, Montserrado County.

During that meeting, the two foreign nationals allegedly invited her to travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to meet Nikola Ivancic, a Croatian national whom the government describes as the “kingpin” or leader of the alleged cocaine-trafficking organization.

The documents do not provide an exact date for the alleged meeting at Howard-Taylor’s residence or for her reported trip to Dubai.

Alleged Dubai meeting

According to the charge sheet, Howard-Taylor traveled to Dubai and stayed at what the document identifies only as the “H. Hotel” near the Trade Centre Roundabout on Sheikh Zayed Road.

The government alleges that a meeting was held at the hotel to discuss using Liberia as a transit point for cocaine. Prosecutors claim Howard-Taylor agreed to the proposed operation.

The charge sheet alleges that Ivancic gave Howard-Taylor US$45,000 for shopping while she was in Dubai. It states that Kante, Zadereiko and Vrovac were present when the money was allegedly provided.

No banking record, receipt or other documentation of that alleged payment is included in the pages of the charge sheet provided.

US$75,000 allegedly requested for foundation

Investigators further allege that Howard-Taylor continued to maintain strong ties with members of the suspected network after returning to Liberia.

The charge sheet claims she requested and received US$75,000 from the hierarchy of the alleged organization through Kante. Prosecutors allege that the money was intended for an entity identified in the document as the “Jewel Star Fish Foundation.”

The prosecution does not explain in the attached pages how the alleged payment was delivered, when it was made or whether it entered a bank account associated with Howard-Taylor or the organization.

Investigators nevertheless claim the alleged trafficking network continued importing and exporting cocaine through Liberia while Howard-Taylor maintained “constant contacts and engagements” with its members.

Third payment allegedly made in August 2026

The government further alleges that Howard-Taylor requested and received another US$15,000 through Kante in August 2026.

According to the charge sheet, she later expressed appreciation to Ivancic for the money. Investigators claim that exchange can be heard in an audio recording.

The documents provided do not include the recording, a transcript of it or information establishing when and how it was obtained. The authenticity and context of the alleged recording are therefore matters the prosecution would have to establish through the judicial process.

The three alleged payments cited in the charge sheet amount to US$135,000:

  • US$45,000 allegedly provided in Dubai for shopping;
  • US$75,000 allegedly requested for the Jewel Star Fish Foundation; and
  • US$15,000 allegedly received through Kante in August 2026.

Evidence claimed by investigators

The Joint Special Investigation Team says its case is supported by travel records showing a trip to meet Ivancic in Dubai, an audio recording and witness testimony allegedly confirming Howard-Taylor’s participation or association with members of the suspected criminal network.

However, the attached charge-sheet pages do not contain the travel records, recording, witness statements or physical evidence of cocaine allegedly connected directly to Howard-Taylor.

Those materials are expected to become central to the preliminary examination requested by her lawyers and granted by the Monrovia City Court. That proceeding will allow the court to examine whether the government possesses sufficient evidence to continue the prosecution.

Government alleges use of public office

Beyond the alleged meetings and payments, investigators accuse Howard-Taylor of using her office and influence as vice president to support and protect the suspected trafficking network’s activities in Liberia.

The government claims she knowingly collaborated and conspired with the alleged organization despite being aware that cocaine is an illegal controlled substance.

The attached narrative, however, does not identify a specific government order, official communication, security instruction or administrative action allegedly carried out by Howard-Taylor to protect the network. It states broadly that she allegedly used her office and influence to provide support and protection.

“Abuse of office” appears among the offenses printed in the heading of the court’s writ of arrest, although it is not separately included in the main nine-count list on the police charge sheet.

Nine offenses listed

The charge sheet lists the following offenses:

  1. Unlicensed importation of controlled drugs or substances, under Section 14.83;
  2. Unlicensed exportation of controlled drugs or substances, under Section 14.84;
  3. Unlicensed sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, dispatch in transit and transportation of controlled drugs or substances, under Section 14.85;
  4. Illicit trafficking, under Section 14.93;
  5. Criminal facilitation, under Section 10.2;
  6. Criminal solicitation, under Section 10.3;
  7. Criminal conspiracy, under Section 10.4;
  8. Money laundering, under Section 15.52.1; and
  9. Aiding the consummation of a crime, under Section 12.5.

The documents cite provisions of Liberia’s Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2023, the New Penal Law and the Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism Act of 2021.

The charge sheet identifies the period of the alleged offenses as 2022 through 2026 and lists the Republic of Liberia as the place of the alleged offenses.

Other people named in the case

In addition to Howard-Taylor, the court documents name:

  • Taras Zadereiko, also known as “Tony”;
  • Mihovil Vrovac, also known as “Michael”;
  • Nikola Ivancic, described by investigators as the alleged leader of the network;
  • Sheik Bashiru Kante; and
  • Other individuals yet to be identified.

The writ of arrest lists the Republic of Liberia, through the Ministry of Justice, as the complainant.

Howard-Taylor remained silent during investigation

The charge sheet states that Howard-Taylor was arrested by a Joint National Security Team on August 19, 2026.

Investigators say she was informed of her constitutional rights and represented during questioning by Cllr. Kabineh M. Ja’neh, Cllr. J. Lavela Supuwood and Cllr. Sandra K. Howard.

According to the government, Howard-Taylor exercised her constitutional right to remain silent in the presence of her lawyers. Her decision not to answer investigators’ questions does not constitute an admission of guilt and cannot, by itself, establish the charges against her.

The arrest document was issued under the authority of the Monrovia City Court and dated August 25, 2026.

Howard-Taylor is presumed innocent unless the prosecution proves every element of the charges against her beyond a reasonable doubt.