By Sainabou Sambou
The High Court of The Gambia, presided over by Justice Ebrima Jaiteh, on Wednesday continued the hearing of the high-profile drug trafficking case involving several accused persons linked to an alleged international drug smuggling operation.
State Counsel S. Sarr and N.M. Aberuea appeared for the prosecution, while defence lawyers Lamin J. Darboe and Fatoumatta Bonda represented the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth accused persons.
The day’s proceedings featured the testimony of the fifth defence witness, Muhammed Jallow, an airport security officer stationed at the Banjul International Airport. Jallow told the court that he was on duty on 29 June 2024, when he was unexpectedly arrested by officers of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG).
“They came to my post and told me I was needed at their office for questioning,” Jallow said. “I told them I couldn’t leave my post, so I called the chief commander, who later went with the officers to his boss before they took me to CTI.”
He testified that he was taken to the Central Investigation Unit (CTI), where he met Lamin Gassama, then Director of Intelligence at DLEAG. According to Jallow, Gassama questioned him about a vehicle allegedly used to transport drugs through his checkpoint.
“I told him I was stationed at Gate 3A, not 3B,” Jallow explained. “It was my colleague, Modou Ndure, who was at Gate 3 B. I told them they could verify it through the deployment form.”
Jallow further alleged that he was detained the entire day without food and that his D15,000, part of a D20,000 loan from his credit union, was confiscated and never returned. He also said he was denied access to his phone and family.
“They seized my bag and phone,” he said. “One junior officer secretly gave me my phone at night so I could call home. I told my brother I was at a program because I didn’t want him to worry.”
Jallow testified that when officers later demanded a written statement, they wrote it themselves and forced him to thumbprint it after one officer, identified as Baldeh, assaulted him.
“He accused me of being dismissed from the police for a previous drug issue, which I denied,” Jallow said.
He told the court that he was eventually granted bail and instructed not to discuss the case publicly. He continued reporting to CTI as required until October, when he and other suspects were transported to the Banjul High Court.
During cross-examination, Counsel Sarr questioned Jallow about his duties and whether he saw the vehicle that allegedly carried the drugs.
“No, sir,” Jallow maintained. “The van did not pass through Gate 3A. I did not see any such vehicle.”
Counsel Sarr, however, suggested that Jallow was not being truthful and that he had knowingly allowed the van through his checkpoint — an allegation Jallow firmly denied.
The case was adjourned to November 26, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., for continuation of the hearing.
