The
president of Journalists Against Illicit Drug Trafficking and Organised Crimes
(JAIDTOC), Momodou Kanteh has praised the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The
Gambia (DLEAG) for its position on drug trafficking in the country. He said the
leadership at the agency seems to be committed to the fight against illicit
drugs in The Gambia.
In
an interview recently, Kanteh stated that considering the number of arrests
made by the agency within the past two years is commendable. He pointed out
that a good chunk of Gambians particularly young people are involved in drug
thus there is a need to have a dedicated and committed leadership at DLEAG to
curtail the surge of drugs within the Gambia.
“I
know, in so many occasions people have pointed fingers at officials of the
agency, claiming that the officials themselves are involved in drug peddling,
or aiding peddlers,” Kanteh said. He added there is no perfect institution in
this world, but with a dedicated leadership many things could be corrected.
Commenting
on the recent move taken by DLEAG to dismiss one of its operatives called Lamin
Sima, the JAIDTOC president said the director general of DLEAG, Bakary Gassama
said it at the launching of JAIDTOC that under his leadership, there will be no
sacred cow and anyone found wanting would not be spared by the law.
“It’s
said that charity begins at home, and I think Gassama is trying to ensure that
his officers are professional and efficient in their duty to combat drug
trafficking in the country,” Mr. Kanteh said. “When JAIDTOC was involved in
radio sensitisation at DHK, we have had people calling in and alleging that
officers are also involved with drug trafficking, and in my report to DLEAG, I
did include those accusations coming from the public, but whether this is true
or not, I believe officers would be more careful now under Gassama’s
leadership.”
The
JAIDTOC President advised people to avoid illicit drugs. He said so many people
lost their lives or are confined in one place due to drug abuse. He said
according to officials from The Gambia psychiatric hospital, most of the
patients there are diagnosed with Substance Used Disorder (SUD). And for him,
illicit drug in a country brings nothing but social disorder.
Kanteh
used the opportunity to call on the relevant authorities to allow DLEAG
officers to be armed during operations. He said officers not allowed to carry
along arms while on operations, imply that the country is putting the lives of
operatives in danger.
