The suspects are currently under the custody of the country’s narcotics agency as investigation into the matter continues.
Ousman Saidybah, the spokesperson of the agency who was contacted for comments, confirmed the development, saying: “DLEAG operatives stationed at Amdalai and Giboro border posts took into custody three persons suspected to be engaged in the dealing and trafficking of illicit drugs. One of the suspects was arrested at Giboro Border Post while the other two were nabbed at Amdalai Border Entry Point.”
“Forty-seven years old Alhadji Malick Ball, a Senegalese national holding a French passport was arrested on Friday 27th March 2024 at Amdalai Border Post with two parcels of suspected cocaine concealed in the false bottom of a suitcase. He was enroute to Senegal from The Gambia.”
“Again, 41 years old El-FourariKarim, a Moroccan national with passport with French national identity card was also arrested at Amdalai Border Post with a block of hashish on the 22nd of March 2024. He was also enrouteto Senegal from The Gambia.”
“Thirty-eight years old Lamin Sonko, a Gambian national who was traveling from Guinea Bissau to The Gambia was arrested at the Giboro Border Post with 12 wraps of suspected cocaine on the 20th of March 2024.”
All the suspects are under DLEAG custody helping with investigations.
Commenting on the weekly situational report of the agency, Saidybah said: “The agency registered eighteen (18) cases involving twenty (20) suspects. Four (4) of the cases were referral cases from The Gambia Police Force (GPF),” he said, adding that all the suspects taken into custody are adult males.
On the nationality of the suspects, he said: “Fifteen of the suspects are Gambians, three Senegalese including one French Senegalese national, one Sierra Leonean, and one (1) Moroccan national holding a French national identity card.