By: Nicholas Bass
Karamba Bojang, a narcotics officer attached to the scientific unit of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), on Tuesday told the court that samples were extracted from each of the 30 blocks of cocaine in the ongoing drug case involving four Portuguese nationals and five Gambian youths.
Appearing before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of Banjul High Court, the 17th prosecution witness, Karamba Bojang said that he extracted samples from each of the suspected blocks of cocaine, adding that the extraction of the samples were done in the presence of Valma Cabral, Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtodos, Simara Nadiya Martins, and Miriam Maria Mendes.
Bojang further told the court that after extracting samples from each of the 30 blocks of cocaine allegedly belonging to the four Portuguese nationals, he labelled them into three different specimens or sealed bags that were tagged (labelled) as 528/2024,529/2024, and 530/202,4, respectively.
Under cross-examination with defence lawyer Sheriff K. Job representing the four Portuguese nationals, Boja stated that the accused persons did not confirm to him that the 30 blocks of cocaine belonged to them.
When quizzed by defence lawyer Job to ascertain if DLEAG secured the presence of an independent witness at the time of extracting the samples he responded in the negative, adding that he cannot remember the same.
Meanwhile, following the completion of Bojang’s cross-examination, the prosecution (state) announced the closure of its case, and the court ordered the defence lawyers to address the court on any issue.
But the defence lawyer, Fabakary Jamme, who held brief for his senior, Job and lawyer Lamin J. Darboe for Yahya K. Jatta, Modou Bojang, and Muhammed Jallow, pleaded with the court for a short adjournment to enable the defence to address the court on a no-case-to-answer submission.
After several pleading to the court from the defence lawyers for an adjournment, the presiding Judge, Justice Jaiteh granted their application and granted an adjournment to enable them address the court orally on a no-case-to-answer submission.
According to court records Vilmar Cabral Roel, Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtodos, Simara Nadiya Martins, and Miriam Maria Mendes on or about 29 June 2024 at Banjul International Airport in West Coast Region of The Gambia and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, allegedly had 33kg and 600g of cocaine for trafficking.
The particulars of count two revealed that the four Portuguese ladies with Seedy Ceesay, Lamin Ceesay, Yaya K. Jatta, Modou Bojang, and Muhammed Jallow on or about 29 June 2024 at Banjul International Airport in West Coast Region of The Gambia and within the jurisdiction of this honourable court allegedly dealing in prohibited drug for transportation.