By Nelson Manneh
Operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency the Gambia (DLEAG) attached to the Kanifing Municipal command, on Wednesday 29th September 2022, seized a total of seven hundred and thirty-four blocks of a substance believed to be cocaine.
The preliminary test conducted by forensic experts suggest that the block of substances is cocaine.
Ousman Saidybah, the Spokesperson of the DLEAG said the seizure is the result of a well-coordinated high-profile intelligence-led tactical operation starting with an initial seizure of one block of the contraband at Westfield Junction, followed by another seizure of forty-four blocks and subsequently, the discovery of another six hundred and eighty-one blocks in a store inside a private residence near paradise view in Salagi, in the Kombo North District of the West Coast Region.
“Six people have been arrested so far, and they include one Gambian by the name omar Fofana and five Sierra Leoneans namely Junior Vandy, Jeremiah Thomas, Alex Thomas, Alagie Suwareh, and Joy Bangura. Three of the Sierra Leoneans stay in the said compound whilst Omar Fofana is said to be the one in charge of the compound but does not live there,” he said.
PRO Saidybah said the Director General of DLEAG has immediately commissioned a comprehensible and detailed investigation into the case with due compliance with the rule of law and human rights. He said the Agency will work with all national stakeholders and international partners to consolidate this achievement and hold the perpetrators to criminal accountability.
“Amidst a desperate disinformation campaign against the Agency by groups and individuals who are serving not but the internet of criminals and criminal organisations, the Agency remained focused and resolute in discharging our mandate. This seizure is yet another demonstration of our capacity, resolve and commitment to the fight against transnational drug trafficking. We are untethered in ensuring that the Gambia remains a hostile ground for drug traffickers and no amount of intentional distractions will wither us from this path,” he said.
The spokesperson of DLEAG said his institution invites all well-intentioned people in the Gambia to cooperate and support them in this investigation and further invite residents of the Gambia to share with the Agency, any information that may come their way regarding drug trafficking activities in the country.
“We acknowledged that the fight against drugs is a shared and collective responsibility and no amount of law enforcement effectiveness can deliver the desired goals without community cooperation and support,” he noted.
