By Ebrima Mbaye
In a stark reminder of persistent attempts to breach prison security, authorities at Mile 2 Central Prison have arrested two individuals in separate incidents over the past two months for allegedly trying to smuggle prohibited drugs into the country’s main correctional facility.
The most recent arrest took place on Monday, March 16, 2026, when Binta Jallow, a resident of Brikama Newtown, was detained during a routine security screening. Jallow had visited the prison to deliver food to a remand prisoner. Upon inspection, prison officers discovered a plastic bag containing suspected cannabis and assorted pills cleverly concealed inside a food bowl.
The contraband was immediately seized, and Jallow was arrested on the spot. She was later handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) for further investigation and is expected to be charged under the country’s strict drug control laws.
This incident comes barely three weeks after a similar case on February 27, 2026, when Amadou Tijan Sowe, from Abuko, was caught attempting to smuggle drugs into the same facility. Sowe had brought provisions for a remand inmate when officers uncovered approximately 22 wraps of a locally known drug called “coos” hidden inside packets of noodles during a routine check.
Both suspects were promptly transferred to the DLEAG for processing.
Prison authorities, in collaboration with the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, have reaffirmed their zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking within correctional facilities. They warned that smuggling prohibited items into prisons is a serious criminal offence that will be vigorously prosecuted.
Officials have also called on the public to support law enforcement efforts in the fight against illegal drug trafficking, stressing that such activities undermine prison security and contribute to broader criminal networks.
The arrests highlight ongoing challenges faced by Gambian prisons in curbing the inflow of illicit substances despite enhanced screening measures.
