In a bold display of coordinated security action, The Gambia Police Force and sister agencies have successfully dismantled a major irregular migration network in Jinack Island, North Bank Region, while decisively debunking the longstanding notion that the area is a “no-go zone” for law enforcement.
The intelligence-led operation codenamed “Operation Storm Watch – Jinack,” was executed in the early hours of Tuesday, January 6, 2026, under the leadership of the Commander of the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Kerewan. PIU officers, backed by multiple security agencies, stormed Jinack at dawn, directly challenging the pervasive public perception that uniformed personnel could not access the area.
For years, Jinack has been portrayed by some as an inaccessible enclave where criminal elements operated with impunity, exploiting the community for illicit activities, including the facilitation of dangerous irregular migration routes across the Atlantic. This misconception, the police say, emboldened smugglers and endangered vulnerable migrants. Tuesday’s operation emphatically proved otherwise.
The multi-agency task force included personnel from The Gambia Police Force, Gambia Immigration Department (GID), State Intelligence Services (SIS), Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG), The Gambia Fire and Rescue Service, and The Gambia Navy. The joint effort was coordinated under regional operational command.
Upon arrival, the PIU-led team engaged community leaders in Jinack Kajata to secure cooperation and maintain order. Acting on verified intelligence, officers conducted targeted searches and arrests, detaining several individuals suspected of organizing irregular migration. The suspects were transported to operational centers for processing and further investigation.
A standby response team deployed from Essau simultaneously raided additional locations, leading to more arrests for profiling by the Criminal Investigation Department.
Later in the day, sustained coastal patrols resulted in the interception of a vessel preparing to depart unlawfully from Jinack’s Atlantic coastline. The boat, carrying over 200 individuals of mixed nationalities—including men, women, and children—was safely escorted to shore, averting what could have been a tragic journey across treacherous waters.
All intercepted migrants were transferred to facilities in Barra and Essau for temporary accommodation, documentation, and profiling ahead of lawful processing.
The operation concluded by day’s end but will continue with intensified surveillance, follow-up actions, and community engagement across Jinack Island.
In an official statement released today, the North Bank Regional Police Command emphasized that such operations will remain sustained and intelligence-driven until all vulnerable corridors are secured. The Gambia Police Force reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting lives, eradicating irregular migration networks, and collaborating with communities to uphold national security.
Authorities urged the public to support these efforts by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest police station or the hotline 9968885.
The successful penetration of Jinack and disruption of migration networks mark a significant victory for law enforcement, restoring state authority in an area long plagued by rumors of inaccessibility. Residents and observers have welcomed the operation as a turning point in the fight against human smuggling in The Gambia.
