The Gambia Immigration (GID) in collaboration with Senegalese security authorities on Wednesday apprehended 23 people suspected of trying to migrate irregularly in the North Bank Region.
The operation was carried out by officers of the Barra Border Patrol Unit in Essau and Sami Village, two communities along a migration corridor that is frequently patrolled. The interception is part of the ongoing joint border surveillance efforts between The Gambia and Senegal to curb undocumented cross-border movement, security officials say.
Immigration sources said the group comprised 15 Senegalese, seven Malians and one Ivorian. Arrested also were two minors, highlighting the continued involvement of vulnerable people in perilous migration ventures.
All 23 have been taken to the Barra Immigration Post where they are being screened and further investigated to establish their identities, routes of travel and intended destinations.
Officials said the case is still under active investigation, but authorities have not yet said if charges will be filed. The GID reaffirmed its commitment to enhance border control measures through regional cooperation, highlighting the importance of safeguarding the rights and welfare of minors and other vulnerable persons.
The interception highlights the continued concern over irregular migration in the sub-region as economic pressures and limited opportunities continue to fuel cross-border movement.
