90% of people arrested for drug-related offences in 2024 are Gambians, according to Demba Ceesay, Director General of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG).
Mr. Ceesay stated in an interview with West Coast Radio on Friday that of the 1,208 drug-related cases that were reported in the previous year, more than 1,024 included possession and less than 200 constituted trafficking offences. He underlined that young people make up the bulk of individuals found in possession.
Less than 200 of the 1208 drug cases we had last year included trafficking, whereas more than 1024 involved possession. Furthermore, who are the parties involved in possession? Eighty percent are young people. Of the 1228 people arrested between January 1st and December 31st, 2024, 1024 are between the ages of 18 and 35, according to the arrestees in this number of cases. Thus, the vast majority are young Gambian people. Ceesay said.
He also emphasised that most of those arrested are not immigrants, unlike popular belief.
Additionally, according to national data, 90% of those arrested in 2024 are Gambians rather than foreign nationals. Thus, these are our schoolchildren, brothers, sisters, and uncles. In other words, young Gambian people stand to gain,” he continued.
