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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: An official indictment in Liberia’s ongoing multimillion-dollar cocaine case indicates that Nicolas Ivancic led a transnational cocaine trafficking operation that relied on local operatives and recruited individuals, including government security personnel, to facilitate the importation, transportation, storage, and attempted exportation of cocaine through Liberia.
According to the indictment, Ivancic directed the criminal enterprise from early 2021 through August 2026, while co-defendants Mihovil Vrhovac, also known as Michael, and Taras Zadereiko, also known as Tony, served as local operatives responsible for coordinating activities within Liberia.
Documents show that the operation involved meetings in Dubai, the recruitment of individuals for security protection, the use of local properties to store cocaine, and efforts to arrange air and maritime transportation for the illegal drug trade.
In the indictment, Ivancic, Michael, and Tony organized a meeting in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in November 2021, which took place at the H-Hotel along Sheikh Zayed Road, near the Trade Centre Roundabout, with the presence of Ivancic, former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, Michael, Tony, Sheikh Basiru Kante, and a Russian national identified as Dejan.
Accordingly, Ivancic recruited Howard-Taylor to provide protection at a high level of government for the operation and assurances were a made that the cocaine passing through Liberia would not be sold, distributed, or consumed on the Liberian market, while their operation would avoid shipping the cocaine to the United States or its allies.
Ivancic reportedly provided financial support to Howard-Taylor and her Starfish Foundation from proceeds generated by the cocaine trade in exchange for protection.
Michael and Tony visited Liberia in October 2021 and were introduced to Smith at the Royal Grand Hotel in Monrovia by Sheikh Basiru Kante, who arranged the meeting intended to recruit Smith to provide security protection and escorts for the cocaine trafficking operation.
The indictment disclosed that Michael provided encrypted communication devices to help the group evade detection by Liberian law enforcement authorities, and the devices were subsequently supplied to Edison Brown, Alpha Bah, Christian L. Nyantee, Jammal Jallah, and others to facilitate the group’s activities.
Smith purportedly agreed to provide security assistance in exchange for payments made by Ivancic through Michael and Tony for his personal benefit.
Smith had assigned NSA agents Franklin Jallabah, Ekki Walters, and Prince Jaryenneh to escort cocaine on several occasions between locations designated by him within Liberia.
In the document, Tony travelled to several Liberian counties in April 2026, including Grand Bassa, Grand Kru, Bong, Margibi, and Bomi, with co-defendants Christopher Saryee, Caycee Nelson, Jammal Jallah, and Christian L. Nyantee.
The indictment further indicated that Tony organized and participated in meetings with several co-defendants to discuss arrangements for transporting cocaine by air.
Those identified in the document include Edison M. Brown, Mohammed Alpha Bah, Christian L. Nyantee, Caycee Nelson, and Jammal V. Jallah, whom the indictment describes as a former Chief of Armory at the National Security Agency.
The meetings were reportedly focused on obtaining aircraft landing permits, identifying landing locations, and arranging the transportation and storage of cocaine.
Accordingly, Michael presented a proposed plan for concealing the movement of narcotics through air transportation. The discussion allegedly covered the frequency of special flights that would bring narcotics into Liberia and transport them to other destinations.
Michael also requested assistance in gathering maritime intelligence to facilitate the importation, transportation, and exportation of cocaine by sea.
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