(Wednesday 15th January 2020 Issue)
Operatives
of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) have arrested over 30
suspects with more than 240kg of alleged cannabis. The arrests were made from
different locations within the West Coast Region as part of the agency’s
operational activities in the 4th quarter of 2019 and the beginning of 1st
quarter of 2020.
The
suspects are currently under the custody of the narcotic officers as
investigations into the matter continue.
The arrest according to DLEAG officials; is the biggest cannabis seizure
in 2020. Officers of the Anti-Crime Unit of The Gambia Police Force during its
patrol have also seized about 82kg of cannabis.
Out
of the 30 suspects arrested, four of them are Senegalese. The DLEAG officers
are also hunting two other suspects who escaped arrest during the process.
Mawlud
Faal, DLEAG’s commissioner in WCR, calls for concerted effort to eradicate the
menace of drug trafficking and its related issues in the country, saying the
arrest was effected at the end of 2019 and beginning of 2020.
DLEAG,
he added, is well prepared in ensuring that drug trafficking and related
organised crimes are completely wiped out from the country., “All hands must be
on deck in ensuring that the agency achieves its objectives,” he stated, while
disclosing that some suspects were arrested in Sibanor, Kalagi and other places
in the WCR.
The
agency’s spokesperson, Ousman Saidybah, said the cases presented related to
operations within WCR that resulted in the seizure of over 300kg of cannabis
Sativa within hot spot areas in the region.
PRO
Saidybah hailed the partnership among the different security apparatus in the
country in combating drug trafficking and its related issue, saying; “criminals
have no border and boundaries and they have no restriction, hence their
operations and activities must be dismantled.”
He
warned compound and vehicles owners to be vigilant of the kind of people that
they give their vehicles to, adding that some are using it as a means of
transporting cannabis and other bad things. “You invest lot of money to have
your compound or commercial vehicle only to give it to notorious person who is
involved in unwanted issues.”
The
peace, security and stability of the country, Saidybah said, are the
responsibility of every citizen, saying it must not be compromised. “We’re safe
and secure as much as our communities are safe and secure. If our communities
are not safe and secure then we as well are not secure.”
Cannabis,
he noted, remains a threat, saying it is important “we join hands together to
fight the menace because it’s a risky behavior. He said that majority of
cannabis that come into The Gambia are from the southern Cassamance region of
Senegal. “Investigations are ongoing and those that are found wanting will be
taken to court.”
