By Louise Jobe
Sixty Chinese nationals appeared before Principal Magistrate Anna O. Mendy at the Brikama Magistrate Court on Tuesday, September 10, 2025, in connection with a large-scale cybercrime case. The defendants, all charged with computer-related fraud and unlawful possession of electronic devices, pleaded guilty to both counts, according to court records.
Deputy Commissioner M. Jarju, Assistant Commissioner M. Camare, and Assistant Commissioner F. Touray represented the Inspector General of Police, while counsel L.S. Camara and M. Colley appeared for the accused. The charge sheet was read and translated into Chinese before the defendants entered their pleas.
The first count accuses the sixty individuals of unlawful possession of 242 mobile phones, 72 desktop computers, 54 laptops, seven wireless routers, a flat-screen television, and various computer accessories with intent to commit crimes. The second count alleges computer-related extortion, fraud, and forgery, involving the same equipment intended to produce fake data across social media platforms.
Assistant Commissioner F. Touray outlined the police operation that led to the arrests, explaining that “sometimes in the month of September 2025 the police, acting on a tip-off, raided two buildings at Tujereng and Barokunku suspected of housing Chinese nationals. The premises were believed to be used by the Chinese nationals for online illegal activities. Upon arrival at the premises, the police team successfully apprehended the accused persons. A search was conducted and the following items that were used for the illegal online activities were recovered: 242 mobile phones, 54 laptops, 72 desktop computers, 7 wireless routers.”
The investigation revealed a sophisticated cybercrime syndicate using desktop computers, mobile phones, and two Starlink internet systems. The group reportedly engaged in social media scams via WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, and Instagram, utilizing VPNs to conceal their locations, and conducted cryptocurrency transactions through Coinbase and Crypto.com. Some of the suspects attempted to hide their passports to avoid law enforcement.
Assistant Commissioner Touray noted the logistical challenge of handling the recovered equipment. “Looking at the number of items they are too much and difficult for us to transport them to the court. But we have twenty-one phones of items dated and numbered from 1 to 21 we want to tender them in court to be marked as exhibit in court.” Counsel L.S. Camara confirmed he had no objection.
In his submission, Camara highlighted the defendants’ lawful entry into the country and lack of prior offenses. “These convicts have not wasted the court’s time because, given their number and language constraint, they appeared for the very first time and pleaded guilty out of respect for this court. Therefore, your worship, we asked you to temper justice with mercy. The reason being there is no individual or corporate complaint against the convict, and there is no adverse impact. Only the advisory of The Gambia as a result. They have no historical sentencing or money fine to the accused persons.”
Deputy Commissioner Jarju requested that the convicts be deported to China and Vietnam at their own expense. Principal Magistrate Mendy accepted the photographic evidence and adjourned the case to Thursday, September 11, 2025, for sentencing.
