By Ndey Sowe
Siman Lowe, the Public Relations Officer of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has said that immigration officers had intercepted suspected migrants who were bound for irregular migration to Europe in recent days.
He said the Barra Immigration Post intercepted some would-be-migrants on 21 October, 2024 at around 2 am.
Lowe added that this interception was conducted after the office received a tip-off of a potential departure of certain immigrants. In the same vein, he explained that the same post intercepted 26 suspected migrants within the Gambia who were also departing from the lands of The Gambia to travel to other countries.
In addition, he said the Barra immigration officers had intercepted 51 suspected immigrants along the Barra coast. He added this number included 49 male suspected immigrants and 2 females.
“We also had 3 minors who are part of this particular group who have been intercepted,” he revealed.
He outlined that within the 51 people, 46 of them are believed to be Gambians, 2 from Guinea Conakry, 1 Senegalese, 1 Nigerian, and 1 from Sierra Leone.
In a similar but separate development, he pointed out that they had also made interceptions along the Gunjur Sambouya highway after officers got a tip-off concerning potential departure of irregular migrants on the 22nd of October, 2024. In a bid to fight against irregular migration, they have taken efforts in mitigating the menace.
“In these interceptions which occurred around 3am towards 4am, they were able to intercept 25 suspected immigrants in the Gunjure Sambouya area. Among these 25 people, we had 22 Gambians, 1 Senegalese, and 2 from Guinea Bissau,” he outlined.
He revealed that the total number of suspected immigrants that they have received within the two dates had amounted to 76 suspected immigrants from The Gambia looking for a way to transit and move to other countries.
He said overall among these numbers, 73 are male, 3 females and 3 minors who were also involved and the nationality aggregation of the overall interceptions they had received 68 Gambians, 2 Senegalese, 2 from Guinea Conakry, 2 Guinea Bissau, 1 Nigerian and 1 from Sierra Leone.
He revealed that within these interceptions, the officers were able to hold on to certain materials that were believed to have been transported along while they were traveling.
He said among these materials included, 48 gallons 20 liters of fuel, 1 boat Yamaha engine, and food items.
He said the GID has been making efforts to control, monitor, and regulate the movement of people within, outside and into The Gambia.
“The department remains strong in making sure we are able to mitigate this practice which has kept families heartbroken and has also pushed us to an edge whereby we have seen Gambians who have perished in this perilous journey. And through this quest, we would increase our efforts and embolden officers to curb the menace,” he assured.
He therefore thanked all partners and stakeholders in helping them in mitigating irregular migration.
