By Lincoln G. Peters
MONROVIA, Liberia, August 27, 2026 — Executive Protection Service (EPS) Director Sam Gaye has defended the government’s decision to prosecute former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor over alleged links to cocaine trafficking, arguing that a person does not have to physically handle narcotics to face charges under drug laws.
Gaye, a member of the country’s national security apparatus, made the assertion Wednesday in a post on his official Facebook page amid public debate over the legal basis of the charges brought against the former vice president.
“The public is very uninformed about drug trafficking laws. You don’t need to directly touch, see, or move the actual drugs to be guilty of drug trafficking crimes and related offenses,” Gaye wrote.
He argued that drug laws are deliberately structured to allow authorities to pursue individuals accused of facilitating or supporting trafficking networks, even when they do not physically possess the narcotics.
“Drug laws are one of the powerful tools created by lawmakers around the world to dismantle drug cartels,” Gaye said.
Citing the United States as an example, the EPS director said American authorities use extraterritorial laws to prosecute foreign-based drug traffickers.
“All that is required is ‘knowledge and intent’ that the drugs would be imported into the United States,” he asserted.
Gaye’s comments come after the Liberia National Police charged and forwarded Taylor to court in connection with an ongoing investigation into alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Police have alleged that Taylor received approximately US$135,000 between 2022 and 2026 from individuals they describe as members or associates of a transnational cocaine trafficking network.
The allegations remain unproven, and Taylor is presumed innocent unless convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction.
According to the police charge sheet, investigators allege that Taylor met in Dubai with several individuals authorities identify as members of a transnational cocaine trafficking network.
Police named Taras Zadereiko, also known as Tony; Mihovil Vrovac, also known as Michael; and Croatian national Nikola Ivancic among those allegedly involved.
The charge sheet alleges that a meeting took place at H Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai during which the alleged traffickers discussed using Liberia as a transit point for cocaine shipments.
Authorities claim Taylor agreed to facilitate the arrangement.
Police further allege that while in Dubai, Taylor received US$45,000 from Ivancic for shopping in the presence of Bashiru Kante, Zadereiko and Vrovac.
“Upon defendant Jewel Howard Taylor returned to Liberia, she maintained strong ties with the cocaine cartel,” the police charge sheet alleges.
Investigators further claim Taylor subsequently requested and received US$75,000 through Kante for the Jewel Star Fish Foundation while the alleged trafficking network continued its operations.
Police also allege that Taylor received another US$15,000 through Kante in August 2026 and later expressed appreciation to Ivancic in what investigators say is an audio recording in their possession.
The police have not publicly established the authenticity or full context of the alleged recording in court.
According to the charge sheet, investigators accuse Taylor of knowingly maintaining contacts with individuals allegedly involved in cocaine trafficking and using her office and influence to support or protect their activities.
These assertions form part of the government’s criminal allegations against the former vice president and remain subject to testing through the judicial process.
Gaye’s intervention comes amid growing public and political debate over the government’s handling of the case, with some opposition figures accusing authorities of selective prosecution while government officials insist the investigation is being conducted in accordance with the law.
