By The Analyst Staff Writer
MONROVIA – The controversy surrounding Police Inspector General Gregory O.W. Coleman’s allegation that drug trafficking organizations have infiltrated sections of Liberia’s media continues to generate strong reactions, with former Solicitor General Cllr. Cyrenus Cephus becoming the latest prominent legal voice to question the government’s position. Arguing that allegations of such magnitude cannot rest on official assertions alone, Cephus has challenged the government to publicly produce the evidence supporting the claim, warning that broad accusations against the media risk undermining press freedom while diverting attention from the central issue of dismantling the criminal networks behind Liberia’s multi-million-dollar cocaine seizures. The Analystreports.
Former Solicitor General Cllr. Cyrenus Cephus has called on the Government of Liberia to provide credible evidence to substantiate allegations that members of the media have been compromised by drug trafficking organizations, insisting that the burden of proof rests with those making the accusation.
Reacting to recent remarks by Liberia National Police Inspector General Gregory O.W. Coleman, who alleged that drug trafficking organizations had infused money into sections of the media to influence public opinion and undermine ongoing investigations, Cephus described the allegations as serious enough to require immediate public clarification.
According to him, allegations of collaboration between journalists and criminal organizations should never be made without evidence capable of withstanding public and legal scrutiny.
“The media must demand that the Inspector General produce the evidence he claims to have relied upon to make such accusations,” Cephus asserted.
Calls for Government Self-Assessment
Cephus argued that rather than directing public attention toward the media, government should undertake what he described as a critical examination of how elements within the country’s security apparatus may have enabled international drug trafficking networks to establish operations in Liberia.
He maintained that the principal focus of the national conversation should remain on identifying those responsible for facilitating the entry, movement and protection of the massive cocaine consignments recently seized by security authorities.
According to the former Solicitor General, journalists have merely reported statements and developments emerging from the ongoing investigation and should not become targets of generalized accusations because of their reporting.
‘Allegations Are Not Proof’
The former Solicitor General reminded public officials that under both democratic principles and established legal practice, allegations alone do not constitute evidence.
“It is important to remind those in power that mere allegations do not constitute proof,” he said.
He stressed that the legal burden rests with the party making an accusation and argued that government must therefore produce credible evidence if it intends to maintain allegations linking any members of the media to organized drug trafficking.
Without such evidence, Cephus warned, sweeping statements risk being viewed as defamatory and potentially damaging to the credibility of Liberia’s independent press.
Support for Anti-Drug Campaign
Despite his criticism, Cephus said his position should not be interpreted as opposition to the government’s campaign against narcotics trafficking.
Instead, he argued that the fight against drug cartels would be strengthened—not weakened—by ensuring that allegations are supported by verifiable evidence and that investigations remain focused on those directly responsible for financing and facilitating the criminal enterprise.
He observed that Liberia’s battle against organized narcotics trafficking requires public confidence in the integrity of both security institutions and the justice system.
PUL Urged to Respond
Cephus also called on the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) to formally respond to the Police Inspector General’s comments.
He said the Union has a responsibility to defend the reputation of the media profession whenever broad allegations threaten to undermine public confidence in journalists without supporting evidence.
According to him, the PUL should demand clarification from authorities and insist that any allegations against journalists be supported by credible facts rather than generalized assertions.
“For too long, the Liberian media has been used as a scapegoat by men and women of limited vision and courage,” Cephus contended.
He argued that attempts to blame the media for broader institutional failures have become a recurring feature of public discourse whenever governments face mounting pressure over national challenges.
Debate Continues
Cephus’ intervention adds another dimension to the growing debate sparked by Inspector General Coleman’s remarks, which were later clarified by Information Minister Jerolinmek M. Piah. Piah emphasized that the government’s concerns were directed at specific individuals allegedly under investigation and should not be interpreted as an accusation against Liberia’s media community as a whole.
The discussion now places renewed attention on the relationship between national security investigations and press freedom as authorities continue their probe into one of Liberia’s largest cocaine seizures.
While government officials maintain that sophisticated international drug trafficking organizations possess the financial capacity to influence individuals and institutions, media advocates argue that any allegations against journalists must be supported by concrete evidence and pursued through due process.
As Liberia intensifies its campaign against organized narcotics trafficking, the debate is increasingly extending beyond arrests and seizures to broader questions of institutional accountability, freedom of the press and the responsibility of public officials to substantiate allegations made in the public interest.