The Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s director general, Demba Ceesay, revealed that 1,208 drug-related cases were filed in 2024, leading to 1,219 arrests.
Ceesay stated that 1,014 of the people arrested were Gambians during yesterday’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Drug Trafficking celebration at PIA offices in Bakau.
Interdiction increased by 42% in the second half of 2024 when 503 of the 1,208 cases from the previous year were registered between January and June and 705 between July and December. He explained that two tonnes, 254 kg, and 392 g of cannabis sativa were seized on plantations, while one tonne, 923 kg, 896 g, and 581 mg was seized.
More than 125 kg of cocaine, cannabis gummies, black chip, chocolate, vapes, crystal, Clonazepam, MDMA, Tramadol, Molly, Diazepam, and Gabadol tablets and powders were also found, he said, along with more than 14 kg of cannabis resin (hashish), 48 kg of Cannabis ruderalis (skunk), and more than 13 kg of Skunk.
Cannabis is the most common drug, accounting for 54.7% of all seizures, he said, but methamphetamine, hashish, and Kush also account for a sizable portion of seizures (14.3%, 9%, and 9.5%, respectively).
According to DG Ceesay, his team examined the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Affairs’ prosecution procedures in July 2024 and was given the responsibility of prudently accelerating cases as soon as interdictions are issued.
With the agency successfully prosecuting 207 in 2024—77 from January to June and 130 from July to December—that, he claimed, “paid dividend as returns of prosecution rose significantly, indicating a record 92% increase in prosecution in the second half of the year.”
