Banjul International Airport
By Buba Gagigo
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), has reported the arrest of 45-year-old Abubacarr Njie, a Gambian national with Swiss residency, upon his arrival at Banjul International Airport. Njie was found in possession of sixty (60) blocks of what is suspected to be Moroccan hashish.
“Operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) stationed at the Banjul International Airport registered a landmark seizure of Moroccan Hashish on the 7th of September 2024 around 02:30 hours GMT onwards. The seizure is said to be the single biggest seizure of hashish at the Airport. “45 years old Abubacarr Njie, a Gambian National holding a residential permit of Switzerland, was arrested upon arrival at the Banjul International Airport with sixty (60) blocks of suspected Moroccan Hashish,” DLEAG said.
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG), disclosed that preliminary investigations suggest the suspect traveled from Switzerland to Spain, where he obtained the suspected illegal drugs from a friend. He then continued his journey to The Gambia, transiting through Casablanca via Royal Air Maroc.
DLEAG further noted that this arrest is part of a series of significant drug seizures made by their Airport Command in the past week.
“On the 2nd of September 2024 around 01:00 hours GMT onwards, the Agency’s Airport Command seized thirty-four (34) pellets of suspected cocaine from a 51 years old female Portuguese National who hid the said drugs in her pant. Follow-up investigations into her case led to the apprehension of a male Portuguese National on the same day around 14:30 hours GMT onwards with two hundred (200) pellets of suspected cocaine at Baraka Estate in Bakoteh. These seizures among several other landmark seizures clearly indicates the Agency’s commitment and determination to bridle the drug situation in the country,” DLEAG said.
In a related but separate incident, DLEAG reported that their operatives apprehended sixteen (16) individuals, including an Alleged Child Offender (ACO), at various locations across the country for possession of different types and quantities of drugs.