4 Spanish nationals arraigned for drugs

Four Spanish nationals who were recently arrested in the coastal town of Sanyang in the Kombo South district of the Western Region for being in possession of illicit drugs (cannabis) were on Tuesday arraigned at the narcotics court of the Banjul Magistrates' Court on charges of being in possession of prohibited drugs.

The accused persons were separately charged, except in the case of Raul Vincent Vieto & Clara Laisalle Planas, who were arraigned together.

According to the indictment, the duo on 5th August 2010 at Sanyang village had in their possession 77grams, 45mg of cannabis resin (hashish) a prohibited drug.

When the charges were read to them through a Spanish interpreter, both denied the charges.

The presiding magistrate Hillary U Abeke overruled an objection by defence counsel Antouman Gaye and Combeh Gaye-Coker that the narcotics court lacks jurisdiction to hear and try the accused persons, in a ruling he delivered on Tuesday to that effect.

The accused persons were subsequently remanded in custody at the State Central Prison at Mile 2.

In a similar case, another Spaniard Roger Giallifa Margant was also arraigned on a one-count charge of being in possession of prohibited drugs contrary to the Drug Control Act of 2003.

The prosecutors claimed that the accused was also on 5th August 2010 at Sanyang village found in possession of 35grams, 640mg of cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to charge, and was also remanded in custody pending the next adjourned date when the prosecutor is expected to feed the court with the facts of the matter.

Alex Guillem Pizarro Estudiou, another Spanish national, was also indicted for being in possession of prohibited drugs. The offence charged disclosed that on 5th August at Sanyang village, the accused person was found in possession of 26grams, 280mg of cannabis sativa a prohibited drug.

He also pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody pending the next adjourned date, when the prosecutor is ready to furnish the court with the facts of the matter.

The Narcotics Control Assistant (NCA) M. Jallow represents the National Drug Enforcement Agency in the trial. All cases have been adjourned to today Thursday 16th September 2010.

At Tuesday's court sitting, officials from the Spanish consular office in the Gambia were present in court, likewise the family of the accused persons.