DLEA-G Gives Seizure Statistics On ‘Kush’, Other Related Drugs
By Mustapha Jallow / Amadou Manjang
The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (DLEA-G) has provided statistics on the drugs seized by his agency disclosing that in 2023, about 7 kilograms, 353 grams, and 121 milligrams of the new drug ‘kush’, was seized in the Gambia with seventy-nine (79) cases registered.
As the Gambia joins other West African nations in investigating the new drug ‘kush’ which users refer to as the “devil’’, Gambian authorities have since sent samples outside the country, in order to establish the truth behind this substance. Health officials said earlier that two young people were brought dead allegedly linked to the new drug ‘Kush’. Additionally, DLEA-G officials also indicated that there are other drugs that are killing and giving mental health problems to young people as well, adding that the focus should not be on ‘kush’ only, but drugs in its entirety, especially substance-pills.
The seizure statistics by DLEA-G officials further showed that Gambians form the majority of those arrested in drug cases, followed by Sierra Leoneans. A review of DLEA-G’s seizure statistics from 2020, revealed that ‘Kush’ like other drugs, is among the new entrants in the local illicit drug market. shows that the annual seizure statistics for 2020 showed that there was no single seizure of ‘kush’ in the country, and indicated that the Agency registered its first ever ‘kush’ case in 2021. The authorities indicate that this was a case which involved a Sierra Leonean national who was arrested with 7 grams of ‘kush’ in Kanifing Municipality.
They added that for the first two months of 2023, the Agency did not register any kush related case, but the first arrest was effected on two Sierra Leonean nationals who were arrested with 58 wraps of ‘kush’ in Kololi in March 2023. The statistics also indicate that there was no ‘kush’ case in April 2023, but a Gambian National was arrested at Yundum with 35 wraps of ‘kush’ in May 2023. The statistics showed that the seizure trend started increasing from June 2023 onwards, with Sierra Leoneans forming the majority of those arrested between June and September 2023.
Meanwhile, the authorities reported that several Gambian nationals were also arrested with ‘kush’ and the majority of the cases were registered in the Greater Banjul Area. However, the agency said NBR and URR intercepted significant quantities of ‘Kush’ in provincial Gambia, with huge quantities seized at the Suwareh Kunda Checkpoint, Kerr Sulaye and Farafenni in NBR, and Nyamanarr Border Post in URR respectively. That the case in URR involved a Sierra Leonean lady who was intercepted with six plastic bags of ‘kush’ concealed in a bluetooth speaker. The statistic report shows a changing trend in the seizure of ‘kush’ among others prohibited drugs between 2017 to 2024.
Changes in the trends of cannabis:
The DLEA-G seizure statistics has also indicated that the strain of cannabis that was present in the local illicit drug market prior to 2017, were cannabis sativa and cannabis resin.
However, there has been a changing trend with the entry of cannabis ruderalis known as skunk and ‘kush’. According to the Agency, cannabis sativa accounts for the bulk of the seizures of prohibited drugs and remains the most commonly abused drug in the country. The Agency said it also witnessed an increase in the seizure of a cannabis plantation within the territorial boundaries of The Gambia, and said the seizure of cannabis plantations rose from 2 kilograms and 200 grams in 2022, to 133 kilograms and 600 grams in 2023, and that the bulk of the seizures occurred in the West Coast Region. The Agency said significant quantities were seized from people who cultivate cannabis in their backyards in the URR, CRR and NBR respectively, and that a major breakthrough on the seizure of the cannabis ruderalis known as skunk and ‘kush’, was the arrest of one British national who disguised himself as a businessman and philanthropist. The Agency said the said British national was a major player and distributor of skunk in the country, who was arrested and prosecuted. The Agency said a covert operation uncovered his illicit activities which showed that he was engaged in a massive cultivation of skunk in diverse places in Brusubi, and was also engaged in the experimentation of the cultivation of different varieties of cannabis.
According to the Agency, skunk is a strain of cannabis cultivated in enclosed environments with the use of heavy-duty lamps instead of, adding that DLEAG has registered landmark seizures of significant quantities of cocaine and Moroccan hashish, most of which were said to be on transit.
Changes in the trends of the seizure of controlled drugs
Diazepam, clonazepam and bromazepam known as ‘ross’ in the local illicit drug market, were also said to be the most commonly abused controlled drugs in The Gambia, according to DLEA-G’s seizure statistics. The statistics indicate that 325 tablets of clonazepam were seized in 2019; 528 tablets in 2020, and 2,447 tablets in 2021. That however, the quantities of clonazepam seized dropped significantly in 2023 with only 3 tablets seized. The DLEA-G statistics also showed a drop in the seizure of clonazepam which it said also coincided with a sharp rise in the seizure of methamphetamine (meth), tramadol and ecstasy. That methamphetamine seizure gradually increased from 25 tablets in 2020; 85 tablets in 2021; 541 tablets in 2022, to 3,854 tablets in 2023. That tramadol was not seized in 2020, that 92 tablets were seized in 2021, and 1,130 tablets in 2022, with a reduction to 83 tablets in 2023. That ecstasy also known as GAW because of its potency, entered the local illicit drug market in 2020 with only 12 tablets seized. That this increased to 32 tablets in 2021; 105 tablets in 2022 and 11,385 tablets in 2023.
