By: Sandally Sawo
Eighty-nine suspected Kush cases have so far been reported to various healthcare facilities across the country while four fatalities have been recorded, revealed the National Taskforce on Drug and Substance Abuse last Thursday in a press briefing.
According to the Regional Director of Health Services, Musa Camara, the suspected cases involved people within the age bracket of 14 and 58 years old, saying 87 out of the 89 cases involved males while two cases involved females. He added that four people have died as a result of Kush use.
Mr. Camara said most of the suspected Kush cases were reported to Serekunda Health Center, Banjulinding Health Center, Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, and Kanifing General Hospital.
He appealed for concerted efforts in the fight against Kush.
The Chairman of the Task Force, Commissioner Pa Samba Bojang, detailed the nationalities of the people involved in Kush trafficking.
He explained that five ladies, 60 Gambians, 27 Sierra Leoneans, one Nigerian, and one Guinean were found to be involved with Kush.
“All these cases are being processed, and some of them have already been mentioned in court. Some of them are about to be mentioned, and that is for the interdiction from the Drug Law Enforcement Agency level,” said Commissioner Bojang.
The Drug Demand Reduction Officer at the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Mr. Lamin K. Jobarteh, said the agency has taken measures to strengthen its Kush surveillance at the border despite the porosity of the Gambia’s land borders.
“We have sister security services that are also ready to support our operations,” Mr. Jobarteh informed journalists.
