MONROVIA – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has given the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai 72 hours to publicly release evidence supporting a claim that a drug cartel has allegedly provided money to members of the Liberian media to influence and distract ongoing investigations into the country’s massive cocaine seizures.
The Union warned that failure by the government to substantiate the allegation could trigger appropriate actions to defend the integrity and credibility of journalism and the media in Liberia.
The demand follows remarks attributed to Liberia National Police Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman during a government briefing held at the Ministry of Information on Thursday, July 30, 2026, in which he reportedly alleged that a “drug cartel” had infused money into the media as part of efforts to sway public discourse and distract from ongoing investigations.
The PUL described the allegation as a “reckless, risky, and blanket indictment” of journalism and the Liberian media, arguing that such a serious claim cannot be made on a national platform without the immediate disclosure of supporting evidence.
According to the Union, the allegation was made while Inspector General Coleman was providing an update on behalf of the Government of Liberia’s Joint National Security Investigation Team concerning the investigation into the seizure of more than three metric tons of suspected cocaine valued at over US$300 million in Duazon, Margibi County.
The PUL said the gravity of the allegation is heightened because it was made on an official government communication platform and before senior members of President Boakai’s security and justice team.
Those present, according to the Union, included Justice Minister and Attorney General Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Executive Protection Service Director Sam Gaye, Officer-in-Charge of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency Fitzgerald Biago, and Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah.
The Union argued that a claim of this magnitude, made publicly and in the presence of senior government officials, cannot be left unsubstantiated.
“The evidence must be publicly availed,” the PUL maintained, stressing that the disclosure would allow the relevant institutions to take immediate and appropriate action against any journalists or media organizations found to have received illicit funding.
The Union’s position places the government under pressure to either substantiate the allegation or clarify the basis upon which the claim was made.
The PUL said it considers the allegation particularly dangerous because it could undermine public confidence in the Liberian media and expose journalists and media organizations to suspicion without identifying any specific individuals or institutions involved.
The Union maintained that while any credible evidence of criminal financing involving journalists should be investigated and prosecuted through the appropriate legal channels, broad allegations against the media must be supported by verifiable facts.
The 72-hour ultimatum now sets the stage for a potential confrontation between the country’s media representative body and the government over the handling of the ongoing drug investigation and the credibility of information being released to the public.
The PUL said it remains prepared to take “appropriate actions” if the government fails to provide the requested evidence within the stated period, without immediately specifying what form those actions would take.
The demand comes as public attention continues to grow around the government’s handling of the cocaine investigation, including questions about the scope of the investigation, those allegedly involved in the trafficking network, and the transparency of the ongoing national security probe.
For the PUL, however, the latest allegation has moved beyond the cocaine investigation itself and into what it considers a fundamental issue of press freedom, professional integrity and the government’s responsibility to substantiate serious accusations made against the media.
