Officers of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, NDEA, in collaboration with the military in the early hours of Wednesday morning arrested three Gambians and three Senegalese, who were found in possession of over one tonne of cannabis sativa.
The culprits were arrested in the village of Seewol, about 5 kilometres away from Sibanor in the Western Region.
Speaking to the press yesterday in Kanifing, the NDEA public relations officer, Chief Inspector Abdoulie Ceesay said the development followed an intelligence report received about suspected drug traffickers in Seewol, who were under close surveillance.
Subsequently, with military back-up, NDEA officers between the hours of 3-4am on Wednesday morning raided the place and arrested three Gambians namely, Modou Badjie, Sainey Gibba and Ebrima Jallow, and three Senegalese, namely Malick Sanneh, a rebel, Sainey Gibba and Tapha Gibba.
PRO Ceesay added that over one tonne of cannabis sativa was impounded from them, at the time of the arrest at their residence. He said all the cannabis found in their possession was recovered.
According to Chief Inspector Ceesay, almost 75 percent of the cannabis caught within the Greater Banjul Area comes from the Western Region of the country, adding that the suspects have been working as an organised gang.
He described the latest seizure of the cannabis as a great success for the anti-narcotics agency.
He also used the occasion through the office of the Executive Director NDEA to thank the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of the armed forces for the support rendered towards the success of the NDEA operation.
Announcing that further investigations are ongoing, PRO Ceesay urged the general public to help the agency in their fight against illicit drugs in the country.