The incident was reported to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday in Sukuta involving a UDP political bureau vehicle with the registration number BJL 2870 R. The driver of the vehicle Yusupha Jambang, has been taken into custody as investigation into the matter continues. Mr. Jambang has also been charged with willful damage of property.
Meanwhile, the UDP over the weekend issued a statement claiming the said vehicle was under mechanic maintenance and that the driver of the vehicle, Mr. Jambang is not a member of the party.
However, an anonymous source familiar with the matter said: “The incident happened around 2 a.m. of Saturday while the joint security taskforce were on their routine patrol with the objectives of curbing crime and related issues.
While the patrol team were searching a person they have “interest on” a vehicle bearing the logo of the UDP party on the side of the vehicle coming from the Sukuta end ran away immediately noticing the present of the patrol team.”
Immediately the UDP vehicle passed without stopping at the checkpoint, our source went added, one of the vehicles belonging to the joint security task-force pursued the UDP vehicle.
“After a lengthy pursue by the security personnel, the suspect driving the UDP vehicle decided to obstruct the patrol team. Therefore, while the suspect attempting to take a reverse in order to escape from the patrol team, hit one of the patrol team vehicles that was chasing them.”
Unfortunately, our source further added the person sitting beside the suspect decided to jump out of the vehicle with a bag.
“Nevertheless, as he jumped outside the vehicle, another small bag which the unidentified person was crying felt down. We later found four big raps of suspected cannabis inside the bag. Upon arrival at the Bundung Police Station, a thorough search was conducted on the UDP vehicle and some suspected remains of cannabis were later found in the vehicle.”
Another source who spoke to our reporter on the same matter said the suspect would also be charged with failure to stop at a checkpoint. Mr. Jambang has now been handed over to operatives of Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia for further action.
Meanwhile, the UDP wishes to make it “categorically clear” that the driver at the time of the incident was “not a member of the party but a mechanic tasked to repair the vehicle in question.”
“The United Democratic Party commends the Gambia Police Force for its continued vigilance in fighting crime and asks that a thorough investigation be done and the culprits punished for breaking the laws of The Gambia to the letter.”
“The UDP is disappointed that the mechanic betrayed the trust of the party by allegedly being in possession of cannabis while using our vehicle. The party is offering to cooperate with the police to make sure this matter is put to rest; and the UDP continues to strive for a crime-free Gambia.”
