By: Alieu Ceesay
In a coordinated effort to curb drug abuse and related transnational organized crime, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), in collaboration with the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), conducted a sting operation that resulted in the arrest of twenty Nigerian nationals. The suspects are believed to be involved in online scamming, documentation fraud, and other criminal activities.
The operation, which took place on Thursday, June 27, 2024, was executed simultaneously at two locations. Fifteen suspects were apprehended at Wullinkama with twenty-three laptops and eighteen mobile phones, while the remaining five were caught at Coastal Road with two laptops and ten mobile phones. During the raid, operatives also discovered a red plastic bag containing quantities of suspected skunk cannabis.
“The suspects were taken into custody and charged for joint possession of a prohibited drug,” a DLEAG spokesperson, Lamin Saidyba, said. “The matter concerning suspected online scamming and documentation fraud will be forwarded to The Gambia Police Force and GID for further investigations and necessary actions that will be informed by the outcome of their investigations.”
This is not the first instance of foreign nationals being implicated in criminal activities in The Gambia. In a previous operation, DLEAG and GID officers, with support from the Police Intervention Unit (PIU), arrested forty-nine Sierra Leoneans and two Nigerian nationals at Faraba in the West Coast Region. Similarly, in March 2022, thirteen Nigerian nationals were nabbed for suspected online scamming at Old Yundum, where authorities seized eighteen laptops, nineteen mobile phones, one router, and thirteen passports.
“It is evident that while we intensify efforts aimed at combatting illicit drug trafficking and abuse, we must also remain alert and focused on fighting other forms of crimes and fraudulent behaviors,” the spokesperson emphasized. “These activities have the potential of causing serious physical and emotional trauma on victims, undermining economic activities, and leading to financial loss of income.”
The spokesperson further highlighted the crucial role of public vigilance and cooperation in the fight against crime. “We urge the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious drug and criminal-related activities to law enforcement entities. We can ensure our communities’ safety, security, and drug-free status through active participation and collaboration.”
This joint operation underscores the commitment of Gambian authorities to not only address drug-related issues but also tackle broader criminal activities that threaten the safety and stability of the nation.
