By Buba Gagigo
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has intercepted three boats allegedly preparing for irregular migration journeys to Europe, arresting seven individuals linked to the operations. The department disclosed these developments during a press briefing in Tanji on Thursday.
Inspector Siman Lowe, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the GID, revealed that the first operation occurred on November 18, 2024, in Kartong.
“On the 18th of November 2024, we intercepted 11 would-be migrants in Kartong, and among this number of would-be migrants in Kartong, we have nine of them that are male, and we have two that are female. Among these particular 11 too, includes two minors. These migrants were intercepted together with a boat engine in the area of Kartong,” Inspector Lowe stated.
In a separate case, the Gambia Immigration Department, acting on intelligence from the Senegalese Police, intercepted another boat. This vessel, which was already equipped for the irregular migration journey, was seized in Barra. Along with the boat, authorities recovered 150 liters of fuel and one engine. Seven individuals, including the boat agents and captain, were arrested in connection with the operation. Lowe stressed that the authorities are determined to prosecute those involved in the illegal migration activity.
“In a second case, we also have another interception where a particular boat that was believed to be used for irregular migration was intercepted after we had received an intel from a police officer in Senegal. And this particular boat was already designed, and it was intended now to be used for irregular migration. The officers we had at Barra took it upon themselves and then were able to intercept this particular boat,” he said.
“So among these materials, we had also been able to find seven perpetrators that were involved in this activity, and these individuals included the boat agents and also the captain of the boat. So we are going to make sure that we make efforts in trying to prosecute these individuals for taking part in this regular migration route,” he said.
The third interception took place on November 20, 2024, when the Gambia Navy Patrol Team, conducting routine activities around the Faraba Banta Bolong area, stopped a boat that had been at sea for 20 days. The boat had been awaiting additional migrants to join. A total of 91 people were apprehended, including 74 men, 12 women, and 11 minors. The group consisted of 34 Gambians, 37 Senegalese, 19 Guineans, and one Malian.
“Now, in a recent case, on the 20th of November, yesterday, we have also made another massive interception. In this case, it was done by the Gambia Navy patrol team somewhere around the Faraba Banta Bolong. The Navy patrol team, as they were on their routine activities, were able to intercept a boat that had been at sea for almost about 20 good days, and migrants had been staying there, and they were looking for all efforts to have more migrants to join them in this particular boat.
“In this boat, we are able to have 91 suspects who would be migrants who were intercepted. Among these 91 would be migrants, we were able to have 74 of them who are male, and then 12 of them are female. In this number, again, we have 11 minors who are involved in this activity. Now it is also key for us to note that in this recent interception that was done by Gambia Navy, we were able to have 34 of them who were Gambians, 37 of them were Senegalese. 19 of them were Guineans and then one of them was a Malian,” he concluded.