NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) has resolved to pursue legal action against the Government of Liberia if authorities fail to produce evidence supporting allegations that members of the Liberian media received money from a drug cartel to influence reporting on the country’s largest cocaine seizure.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The decision was reached during a mass membership meeting held at the Union’s headquarters in Monrovia on Monday, August 3, where journalists and media practitioners overwhelmingly mandated the PUL leadership to engage legal counsel and seek appropriate legal remedies within one week.
The move follows allegations made by Liberia National Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, who spoke on behalf of the Government’s Joint Security Investigative Taskforce.
During a press briefing on July 30, Coleman claimed that the Taskforce had “verified and established” that a drug cartel had infused money into sections of the Liberian media to sway public opinion and influence ongoing investigations into the seizure of more than half a billion United States dollars’ worth of cocaine.
However, according to the PUL, no evidence has been presented to substantiate the serious accusations.
PUL Raises Concerns Over Media Safety and Credibility
Members of the Union described the government’s allegations as damaging and potentially dangerous, warning that such claims undermine public confidence in the media, threaten the safety of journalists, and erode the credibility of independent news institutions.
The Union further argued that the Inspector General’s statement should not remain unchallenged, with members suggesting the allegation may have been made out of frustration and intended to divert public attention from growing media reports allegedly linking senior government and security officials to the drug cartel investigation.
Following more than an hour of deliberations, journalist Winston Blyden introduced the motion directing the Union’s leadership to immediately seek legal remedies.
“Following more than an hour of discussions on the damaging statement from the Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman, I move, if I can receive a second, that this body mandates the leadership of the Press Union of Liberia to contact our lawyers with immediate effect to seek appropriate remedies to this issue and report within one week,” Blyden said.
The motion received overwhelming support from the membership.
PUL President Calls for Evidence, Not Allegations
Presiding over the meeting, PUL President Julius Kanubah praised members for demonstrating unity in defending the integrity and independence of the Liberian media.
Kanubah stressed that the Union’s actions should not be interpreted as a confrontation with the government but rather as a demand for accountability and fairness.
He maintained that if the government possesses credible evidence implicating any media institution in collaboration with drug traffickers, such evidence should be made public to strengthen the national fight against illicit drugs.
Kanubah argued that making broad allegations without identifying the media organizations involved risks damaging the reputation of the entire press while weakening public confidence in legitimate journalism.
The PUL’s decision sets the stage for a possible legal challenge should the government fail to produce evidence within the timeframe established by the Union’s membership.
