By Adama Makasuba
Two Senegalese men have been arrested with packed canoe that contains suspected cannabis. They were arrested by officers of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) stationed at Barra in the North Bank Region (NBR) last Sunday, 27th March 2022.
“Operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) stationed at Barra in the North Bank Region (NBR) apprehended two Senegalese Nationals with a canoe packed with suspected cannabis sativa.
“44 years old Dawda Yadeh of Mburr and 18 years old Kebba Cham of Kapantum in Senegal were clutched with fifty (50) big bundles of suspected cannabis sativa at the beach side in Barra on the 27th March 2022 around 10:00 AM onwards,” drug law enforcement agency stated.
“The said suspected prohibited drugs were wrapped in cement papers and placed in a canoe that was to be used to convey the prohibited drugs. The duo together with the fifty (50) big bundles of suspected cannabis sativa, the canoe alongside the canoe engine were taken into custody as further investigations into the matter continues.
According to the Agency, despite combating illicit drug trafficking drug crimes remain an uphill task around the world, but the Agency continue to register significant progress in disrupting illicit drug supply and dismantling organized criminal syndicates across the country.
The Agency said in its annual drug report that it has confiscated two tons of cannabis and grams and milligrams of other illicit drugs from both Gambians and non-Gambians between 2017 and 2018.
“Abating illicit drug trafficking and related organize crime is an uphill battle that nations across the globe are still struggling to contain and eradicate. Bridling this menace is compounded by the constantly changing dynamics, the advent of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) and the use of the dark web and social media to traffic and deal in prohibited and controlled drugs. Notwithstanding, Law Enforcement agencies continue to register significant progress in disrupting illicit drug supply and dismantling organized criminal syndicates,” the Agency noted.
“In The Gambia, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) continues to make giant strides in the crusade on drugs. The Agency has over the years registered landmark cases that have drawn regional and global attention to the country and the Agency’s positive strides in combating controlled and prohibited drugs. This publication and subsequent other publications aim at keeping the public abreast on the seizure statistics of the Agency and the illicit drug trafficking and abuse situation in the country,” it added in the report.