By Arfang M.S. Camara
Officers of the Anti Crime Unit of the Gambia Police Force (GPF) have arrested people for smuggling essential commodities outside The Gambia.
The items were bags of rice, bags of sugar, bags of onions and gallons of oil among others.
“The Anti Crime Unit (ACU) intercepted and arrested about 12 people mainly Gambians, Senegalese and Bissau Guineans,” police spokesperson ASP Lamin Njie said.
He added that they will be charged and prosecuted under the Emergency Powers Regulations Act 2020.
He added that ACU also intercepted some trucks and boats which were about to smuggle goods outside of The Gambia.
“What is staggering is we intercepted about 4,000 bags of sugar that are part of the items that were to be smuggled out of the country. These individual are taking the items mainly to Casamance, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau,” he said.
ASP Njie thus called on the general public especially communities that are around the border areas to be vigilant and report any vehicle that is plying the highway with essential goods outside the country.
He made it clear under the Gambia Emergency Powers Regulations 2020 that no one is supposed to export essential commodities outside The Gambia.
“We want the communities to help by informing the police at any point in time once they see vehicles or boats that are destined to smuggle commodities outside the country. We want this information as quick as possible so that we will swiftly intercept the essential commodities,” he said.
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