By: Kemo Kanyi
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) said on Saturday that its officers have responded to three incidences, involving migrant boats and individuals in their attempt to travel to Europe irregularly. The responses, according to the GID, were coordinated over the past weeks.
Speaking in a press conference held at the Immigration Training Centre in Tanji, Inspector Siman Lowe, the public relations officer of the GID, told journalists “some smugglers and would-be migrants” have been arrested during the responses while one smuggler had evaded arrest. Inspector Lowe informed journalist that on March 3rd, 2025, a boat was abandoned on the Bijilo beach just behind the Monkey Park, adding that intelligence report indicated that the boat earlier departed from The Gambia with migrants on board, passed through Senegal to pick additional migrants up and then travelled all the way to Saint Louis but could not continue the voyage due to a mechanical failure.
“It had an engine failure, and migrants from The Gambia decided to return home. This boat was carrying over 200 migrants who travelled four days at sea. Upon arrival, the sick and injured migrants were rushed to local hospitals. After medical attention, 21 would-be migrants were picked up for investigation,” Lowe explained. He added that the “main agents” Alhagie Thorp and Ebrima Saidy, both Gambians as well as the “main organiser Muhammed Jagne” from Senegal have all been arrested. The GID mouthpiece disclosed that one dead body was found in that particular boat, and it was handed over to the police for further investigation.
Inspector Lowe also informed the press that the GID’s North Bank Region (NBR) border patrol unit intercepted suspected “would-be migrants” in Niumi.
“The NBR border patrol unit intercepted 30 suspected would-be irregular migrants of different nationalities in a coordinated operation across Barra and nearby communities on Monday, 17th March, 2025. There were 17 Senegalese, eight Gambians, four Guineans, and one Malian,” PRO Low revealed.
He stated that a prime suspect Lamin Jammeh, a Senegalese national, was arrested at the Barra car park with D74,000, and that he confessed to acting as a sub-agent and later [took] the GID officers to three suspected migrants’ residences on the Essau highway.
“In Mbankam village, officers apprehended the main agent, Abdoulie Jahateh (aka Papa Lie), with CFA 1,335,000 and several migrants. Jahateh disclosed that more migrants were in Bakalarr village under the custody of Alfusainey Sonko, a self-proclaimed marabout. Sonko was found harbouring 13 migrants. Both were arrested and released on bail,” Lowe explained, adding that one Pateh Sarr, a known boat-builder from Barra, was questioned about his intention, regarding an unfinished vessel. Lowe said the boat has been confiscated by the GID.
The GID also informed journalists that officers intercepted 75 “would-be migrants” based at an apartment in Yarambamba.
“Immigration officials in West Coast Region, together with other security services, intercepted 75 would-be migrants at Yarambamba on Friday 21 March 2025, in a joint security operation. Acting on a tip-off received on 20 March 2025, regarding unusual movements at a compound in Yarambamba (numbered 985+RV3, Old Yundum). The GID officers conducted a successful surveillance and intelligence-gathering operation, leading to the successful interception of the group. These would-be migrants were harboured in a three-bedroom apartment ahead of their planned departure,” the GID image-maker further revealed. Inspector Lowe stated that the intercepted migrants consist of 34 Senegalese, 35 Guineans, four Gambians, and two Bissau Guineans, including 63 males, 12 females, and four minors. They were reportedly harboured in a compound allegedly rented by a Senegalese national, Abdoulaye Diop, who is currently on the run.
The GID calls for community support and intelligence-sharing in its fight against irregular migration.