DG Ceesay was speaking during the public drug destruction exercise held at Old Cape Point highway on Thursday.
He said DLEAG seizes large quantities of drugs of various types and applies painstaking measures to process these drugs and the accused persons associated with them.
According to him, this annual exercise is aimed at demonstrating public accountability and transparency in the handling of drugs from the point of arrest to destruction.
He informed the gathering that DLEAG management has always ensured that security and integrity of exhibits are maintained at all times by instituting robust and high secured mechanism of the chain of custody of confiscated drugs.
“Fighting drugs is a daunting challenge and a persisting phenomenon that no nation can easily boast to have totally eradicated,” he said. “However, with the support and active participation of everyone, we can make giant strides in the crusade on drugs and make The Gambia very unattractive for those bent on flooding our streets with illicit substances that rob our youth of their valuable future."
He said the agency's strategic response aimed at countering drug problems in the country has over the years paid dividend and yielded positive results.
"We have succeeded in disrupting the illicit flow, trafficking and dealing in prohibited drugs by intercepting significant quantities of varying types of illicit drugs meant for the local illicit drug market or on transit to other destinations," he divulged.
Moreover, he noted that they have succeeded in dismantling several drug syndicates hellbent on polluting the environment with their reprehensible illicit products.
He added that drug seizure statistics have been shooting up every month, thanks to the highly committed staff of the agency in combating illicit drug trafficking and abuse. "And the momentum I and my team picked up four months ago we have been jealously guarding to sustain the gains of the past and build confidence for the future."
Further, the following quantities of drugs cases have all been successfully dealt with at the court and already been destroyed: Cannabis Sativa - 2T, 18KG, 6MG; Cannabis Resin also known as Hashish - 42KG,974G,785MG; Skunk Cannabis - 400G; Kush - 400G, Cocaine - (117KG,600G,837MG); 104 Blocks and Ecstasy 3505.
