MONROVIA – The integrity of Liberia’s anti-drug campaign depends not only on successful investigations but also on responsible public communication by state institutions. Allegations that journalists accepted money from international drug traffickers are exceptionally serious because they strike at public confidence in both the media and the justice system. The Press Union of Liberia’s demand for evidence shifts the debate from accusation to accountability, insisting that criminal allegations must be supported by verifiable proof. If investigators possess credible evidence, the law requires prosecution rather than broad public assertions. If such evidence cannot be produced, the government faces an equally compelling obligation to protect constitutional press freedom and avoid undermining confidence in independent journalism.
PUL Demands Proof Or Else
The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has demanded that the Boakai administration publicly substantiate allegations that an international drug cartel infiltrated Liberia’s media with illicit funds, warning that it will take action to defend the credibility of the country’s journalism profession if the claims remain unproven.
The Union issued a 72-hour ultimatum for the government to produce evidence supporting the allegations, maintaining that accusations of such gravity cannot be made against the media without disclosure of the facts upon which they are based.
The demand followed remarks by Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman during a national security briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT), where he alleged that Drug Trafficking Organizations (DTOs) had deployed financial resources to influence sections of the media during investigations into Liberia’s largest cocaine seizure.
Demand for Evidence
Speaking on behalf of the Joint National Security Investigation Team, Coleman stated that investigators had established that the alleged traffickers were attempting to manipulate public opinion through financial inducements directed at sections of the media.
“We’ve been able to verify and establish that they have infused monies into the media to change the narrative, distract the key players in the investigation, and sow a serious seed of discord. That is not just hurting the investigations; it is hurting the nation,” Coleman asserted.
The statement immediately drew a strong response from the PUL, which described the allegation as a reckless and sweeping indictment of journalism in Liberia.
The Union argued that because the allegation was made during an official government briefing before senior national security officials, it carries significant legal and public interest implications that require immediate disclosure of supporting evidence.
Kanubah Responds
PUL President Julius Kanubah said the Police Inspector General is under an obligation to identify both the alleged drug traffickers and the journalists or media institutions purportedly involved.
“The Police IG, having made this grave claim, is under obligation to reveal the names of members of the drug cartel and the media allegedly involved in such pay-to-play transactions at the detriment of the public interest and the security of Liberia,” Kanubah declared.
The PUL noted that the statement was made in the presence of Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Executive Protection Service Director Sam Gaye, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) Officer-in-Charge Fitzgerald Biago, and Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah, making it part of the official record of the Government of Liberia.
Although Piah later clarified that Coleman was not referring to the Liberian media as a whole, the Union maintained that the clarification does not eliminate the need for government to identify those allegedly implicated if credible evidence exists.
Press Freedom At Stake
Kanubah questioned why authorities had not arrested either the alleged cartel members or the purported media beneficiaries if investigators had already verified the transactions referenced by the Police Inspector General.
The Union maintained that journalism cannot be subjected to blanket accusations without substantiation because such statements expose journalists to unnecessary risks, erode public confidence in independent reporting, weaken democratic governance, and threaten constitutionally protected press freedom.
The PUL further observed that this is not the first occasion on which officials of the Boakai administration have accused the Liberian media of misconduct amid heightened public scrutiny of government performance and the ongoing cocaine investigation.
Reaffirming its position, the Union said it expects the government to present credible evidence within the 72-hour period or face actions intended to defend the reputation, independence, and professional standing of Liberia’s media. The statement was signed by PUL President Julius Kanubah.