The crackdown against drug peddlers and traffickers is showing no sign of abating, as operatives of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) recently launched an undercover operation that led to the arrest of seven youths with cannabis in the West Coast Region.
According to the NDEA, among those arrested are people wanted by the NDEA as notorious drug traffickers in the country.
Briefing journalists at the agency’s Banjul office, ASP Abdoulie Ceesay, spokesperson of the NDEA, said during an undercover operation was conducted by agents on 11th July 2012 at around 21:00hrs in the outskirt of Giboro village, four suspects were arrested with quantities of cannabis.
Those arrested, according to Ceesay, included one Lamin Ceesay, who came from Cassamance at around 23:00hrs with suspected cannabis on the carrier of his bicycle.
Lamin Ceesay was arrested, and is presently in custody helping NDEA officers in their investigations.
The NDEA mouthpiece further told journalists that at around 12:30am, one Momodou Barry of Brikama Jidda appeared with 13 bundles of suspected cannabis at the back of his bicycle. He was also arrested and is currently detained.
The operation, which lasted for seven hours, according to ASP Ceesay, further yielded dividends at around 1:30am when one Muhammed Bah of Wellingara and Muhammed Conteh of Ebo Town were arrested with cannabis.
They have been charged with drug trafficking and dealing in prohibited drugs.
Meanwhile, one Momdou Jallow alias Pepel of Farato village, described as a “notorious drug dealer” under NDEA surveillance for some time now, was also arrested on 6th July 2012 during an undercover operation at around 0300hrs in the outskirt of Gibboro village.
One Sheikh Tijan Sanneh, a resident of Brikama Jidda is also currently in the NDEA net, since 6th July.
He was arrested with cannabis during a joint partrol by NDEA officers attached to Brikama police station at his Brikama Nyambi residence.
One Ansu Jammeh, said to have been under NDEA surveillance, has also been arrested and is currently helping NDEA operatives in their investigations.
ASP Ceesay said the suspect boarded a commercial vehicle from Kabakor village heading to the Kombos.
“On arrival at a check-point, officers screened the vehicle and found 10 bundles of cannabis concealed in an empty bag of rice belonging to the suspect. He was arrested and taken to the NDEA’s Sibanor base.
The suspect, he said, was first arrested on 19th May 2012 in Farato village with 5kg of cannabis but later released on bail only to be rearrested again on 12th July with over 9kg of cannabis.
ASP Ceesay used the opportunity to call on the public, particularly those living around the border areas to be watchful of illegal activities taking place in their environment.
“NDEA will never be complacent in the fight against drug trafficking in this country. The agency has therefore strengthened its operation within the border areas,” he said.
