DLEAG arrests 633 people with drug related cases

The agency registered 623 cases in 2023 and arrested 633 people with drug related cases.

According to the agency, out of the 633 people arrested in 2023, 539 of them were Gambians while the remaining 94 were non-Gambians.

There has been a slight decrease in the number of arrests as compared with 2022’s 650.

“The periods under review indicate a regular pattern of more Gambian arrestees followed by Senegalese in both 2022 and 2023.  It is interesting to note the significant reduction of Senegalese, and Nigerians while there was a significant increase in the arrest of Sierra Leoneans, and Bissau Guineans in 2023 compared to 2022.”    

Ousman Saidybah, the spokesperson of the country’s narcotics agency who was speaking to The Point in an exclusive interview yesterday spoke at length on the significance role the agency is playing in fighting drug and other clandestine activities in the country.   

The DELAG spokesperson added that the seizure of drugs from  31st December 2022 and 2023 respectively indicates a significant decrease in the quantity of seizures of cocaine, Clonazepam, and Tramadol in 2023 compared to 2022.

In contrast, he went on, “there is a minimal increase in the quantity of seizures of cannabis but a significant increase in the seizure of other drug types.”

However, he added, Kush, diazepam, MDMA, and crystal meth which were not seized in 2022 were seized in significant quantities in 2023, he added.

“It is important to note that the significant seizures of cannabis in the form of plantations in 2023 compared to 2022 are an indication of an increase in local cultivation of cannabis,” he emphasised.

The period under review, he said, reveals cases registered in all administrative regions of the Gambia. “West Coast Region (WCR) and Kanifing Municipality (KM) continue to register more cases compared to other regions. This could be attributed to population density in WRC and KM as well as their proximity to the southern part of Senegal “Cassamance” and the amusement areas. All regions except WCR, URR, and CRR registered an increase in cases in 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.”

He said 287 cases were registered in 2023 in WCR, 180 cases in KM, 29 in URR, 51 in NBR, 27 in LRR, 13 in CRR, and 36 in BJL.

“There is a slight decrease in male arrestees while a slight increase in female arrestees in 2023 compared to 2022.