By Buba Gagigo
Operatives of The Gambia’s Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) stationed at Banjul International Airport (BIA) have apprehended a Nigerian national allegedly attempting to smuggle 130 pellets of suspected cocaine.
According to DLEAG, suspicions were raised through behavioral indicators, leading to the suspect’s invitation for questioning. He admitted to swallowing pellets of cocaine in Guinea-Bissau before traveling by land to the airport.
“Using behavioral indicator tactics, operatives noticed that the suspect could be a mule who may be carrying suspected prohibited drugs. He was subsequently invited for questioning and he confessed to have swallowed pellets of cocaine in Guinea Bissau before traveling by land straight to the Airport,” Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) said.
Subsequently, the suspect, identified as 46-year-old Joseph Sunday Nwezeis, residing in Spain, was placed under observation. During the investigative process, he expelled a total of 130 pellets of suspected cocaine.
“The suspect who was later identified as Joseph Sunday Nwezeis is a 46 years old Nigerian National residing in Spain. He initially excreted thirty five (35) pellets. Later on, he sequentially excreted another thirty five (35) pellets, twenty nine (29) pellets, seventeen (17) pellets, eight pellets, and six (6) pellets respectively. The said incident happened on Thursday, 2nd May 2024 during routing checking for Royal Air Moroc Flight to Casablanca, Morocco,” DLEAG.
In a separate incident, DLEAG’s Brusubi field office apprehended two Sierra Leoneans and one Gambian national with 276 pills of suspected ecstasy, also known as GAW – GAW, and quantities of suspected kush known as Gina Bass around Brufut TAF Estate.
“32 years old Raymond Bangura, a Sierra Leonean national, 26 years old Thomas Margai, a Sierra Leonean national; and 22 years old Mamadou Sey, a Gambian national, were clutched with the said drugs on Saturday 4th May 2024 around 23: 20 hours GMT onwards. The means of conveyance used to traffic the said prohibited and controlled drugs is an Ash color Ford vehicle with registration number BJL 4129 X,” DLEAG said.
Meanwhile, in the North Bank Region, DLEAG operatives, in collaboration with personnel from The Gambia Police Force, The Gambia Immigration Department, and State Intelligence, arrested 42-year-old Modou Camara with sixteen big bundles of suspected cannabis sativa at Daru Fodeba on Saturday, 4th May 2024, around 02:30 hours GMT.
“Equally, 18 years old Sainey Manneh of Tujereng was taken into custody at Tanji with thirty five (35) wraps of suspected Kush. The said incident happened at on Friday 3rd May 2024 around 22:30 hours GMT onwards. 25 years old Lamin Manga and 41 years old Alfusainey Sanneh were arrested at outskirts of Bunoborr village with five (5) bundles and one (1) wrap of suspected cannabis sativa on the 5th of May 2024 around 22:10 hours GMT onwards. The means of conveyance was a plateless motorcycle,” they announced.