Court Orders Five Defendants Arrested in Cocaine Trafficking Case

Monrovia, Liberia: Criminal Court “C” has ordered the arrest of five defendants in an alleged cocaine trafficking case involving former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and several Liberian and foreign nationals.

The five named in the arrest order are Gerald Foley Smith, former Deputy Director for Administration of the National Security Agency; Christian L. Nyantee; Jammel V. Jallah; Cayce L. Nelson; and Albenigo Janior.

According to the supplied account, Assigned Circuit Judge Ousman F. Feika issued the writ on October 7, directing Montserrado County Sheriff Major Austine Seinavula or his deputy to apprehend the defendants and bring them before the court.

The order requires the five to answer charges contained in the indictment. However, the issuance of an arrest warrant does not establish that the defendants have been taken into custody.

The Liberia Broadcasting System reports that the indictment against Howard-Taylor and other defendants was confirmed on October 7, with the court issuing a writ of arrest. Prosecutors are pursuing 11 counts, including drug offenses, criminal conspiracy and money laundering. 

The Ministry of Justice previously said the investigation concerns an alleged transnational narcotics network operating within and beyond Liberia. Its statement identified allegations involving drug importation, distribution, illicit trafficking, criminal solicitation, facilitation, conspiracy and money laundering. 

The court proceedings will determine whether prosecutors can substantiate the allegations against each defendant. All accused persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

Available reporting describes a cocaine seizure valued at US$317 million, rather than weighing 317 kilograms. Reports also differ from your draft’s count of 17 defendants. I have omitted that count and used “court orders arrests” because the completed arrests of these five have not been independently confirmed.