MONROVIA, Oct. 9 -- Liberia's most prominent drug trafficking and money laundering prosecution entered a new phase this week as several defendants, including a former senior security official, were arrested and sent to the Monrovia Central Prison to await trial.

By Willie N. Tokpah

The arrests followed a writ issued on October 7, 2026, by Criminal Court "C" at the Temple of Justice, ordering Montserrado County Sheriff Major Austine Seinavula, or his deputy, to arrest the 19 defendants named in a grand jury indictment and bring them "forthwith" before the court. Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor is among those defendants.

Who is in custody

The first arrest came late Wednesday, October 7, when Mark Quiah, former Deputy Director ...