Former Liberian vice-president charged in drug-trafficking probe

Liberia has charged former Vice-President Jewel Howard-Taylor with drug trafficking, money laundering, and a range of other offences as part of an investigation into an alleged transnational narcotics network. She was detained on Wednesday before being able to board a flight at Roberts International Airport in the capital, Monrovia, the country's justice ministry confirmed. Police chief Gregory Coleman has linked her to the seizure last month of cocaine valued at $317m (£233m).