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Gambia Embassy in Turkiye issues Travel Advice to Gambians

Mar 27, 2026, 11:14 AM

Press Release

In the past year, this mission has noticed a significant spike in the number of Gambians that get intercepted and eventually deboarded and placed under arrest at Istanbul International Airport for transporting controlled substances of various classes, even though the Gambian/carriers claim they are transporting moringa leaves/powder (locally called “never die”). The carriers also claim they are only performing the role of transporters (commonly known as GP) and have no clear knowledge of what they are transporting other than what they were told.

To avoid such occurrences, this mission advises all Gambian citizens to familiarize themselves with the legal classification of different herbs and roots in their destination countries and as well as transit airports to avoid getting themselves into legal quagmires.

Failure to heed to this advice may result into significant costly legal consequences, and predicaments such as heavy fines or long-term imprisonment.

THE EMBASSY OF THE GAMBIA

ANKARA, TURKIYE - 26 March 2026:

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