By Nelson Manneh
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency the Gambia (DLEA-G), said it has registered thirty-two cases of illegal drug cases involving thirty-seven accused persons within thirty one days (1st January to 1st February 2023), with thirty six of the accused persons being Gambians including one adult female, and the remaining one accused person being Nigerian.
Combating illicit drug trafficking and related activities is a complex and persisting phenomenon affecting nations across the globe.
Organize criminal syndicates and their patrons and associates are relentlessly engaged in their nefarious activities to destroy the fabric that holds our societies together.
Ousman Saidybah, the spokesperson of DLEA-G said Illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime, promotes violence and undermines the socio-economic development, health, wellbeing and livelihood of people and societies.
That as such, it is incumbent upon all of us to join the bandwagon in the crusade on illegal drugs because no one is safe or immune from the multiplying implications of the prevalence of illicit drug trafficking and abuse.
“DLEAG in fulfilling its mandate has been rigorously engaged in a series of supply suppression, demand reduction and international cooperation programs and activities, aimed at bridling illicit drug trafficking and related activities,” he said.
DLEA-G spokesperson Saidybah said the Agency’s supply suppression activities for the above mentioned period resulted in the apprehension of several suspects nabbed with various classes of prohibited and controlled drugs. Similarly, he said the Public Affairs and Drug Demand Reduction Unit of DLEA-G has been engaged in several preventive demand reduction programs and activities including sensitisation in schools, community outreaches and radio talk shows.
However, he said their success on this crusade on illicit drug trafficking and abuse is highly dependent on our collective resolve, determination and participation to keep our communities safe, secure and drug free.
QUANTITIES OF DRUGS SEIZED:
Mr Saidybah said the total quantities of drugs seized equates to forty nine bundles, one hundred and five parcels and seven hundred and ninety five wraps of cannabis sativa; eighteen pieces of cannabis resin (Hashish); two wraps of cocaine; twenty two tablets of ecstasy as well as thirty five stripes and one tablet of tramadol.
“One of the accused persons apprehended at Bullock checkpoint with some quantities of cannabis sativa was also nabbed with D10,000.00 of suspected counterfeit notes that were in D 200.00 denominations, which matter was handed over to the police for further investigations,” he said.
