Due to accusations of drug trafficking, The Gambia’s High Court Judge Ebrima Jaiteh has detained five Gambians and four Portuguese nationals to the Mile 2 Central Prison.
Vilma Cabral Roel is the first accused, followed by Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtodo in second place, Simara Nadiya Martins in third place, Miram Maria Mendes in fourth place, Seedy Ceesay in fifth place, Lamin Ceesay in sixth place, Yaya K. Jatta in seventh place, Modou Bojang in eighth place, and Muhammad Jallow in ninth place.
The accused is facing three criminal charges from the Attorney General: Count One: Serious drug trafficking in violation of Drug Control (Amendment) Act 2011 section 43(a).
On or around June 29, 2024, at the Banjul International Airport in the West Coast Region of the Gambia, and within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, the State claimed that Vilmar Cabral Roel, Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtodo, Simara Nadiya Martins, and Miram Maria Mendes had incriminated themselves by possessing 33 kg, 600g gross weight of cocaine for trafficking purposes.
Count Two: Handling illegal substances in violation of Drug Control Act Cap 13:05 Vol. IlII Revised Laws of the Gambia 2009, section 33 (1)(c).
On or around June 29, 2024, at Banjul International Airport in the West Coast Region of the Gambia and within the jurisdiction of this honorable Court, the State accused Vilmar Cabral Roel, Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtodo, Simara Nadiya Martins, Miram Maria Mendes, Seedy Ceesay, Lamin Ceesay, Yaya K. Jatta, and Modou Bojang of dealing in prohibited drugs with the following charges: you were involved in the transportation of a prohibited drug and thereby committed an offense.
Count Three: A conspiracy to deal in illegal substances in violation of Drug Control Act Section 53 (1)(a) Cap 13:05 Vol. II| Revised Laws of the Gambia.
Vilmar Cabral Roel, Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtodo, Simara Nadiya Martins, Miram Maria Mendes, Seedy Ceesay, Lamin Ceesay, Yaya K. Jatta, Modou Bojang, and Muhammad Jallow were accused by the State of conspiring to deal with illegal drugs on or around June 29, 2024, at Banjul International Airport in the Gambia’s West Coast Region, which is under the jurisdiction of this honorable court.
The bill of indictment has been handed to the accused, but they were unable to enter a plea because the five Gambians still lack legal counsel and the four Portuguese nationals’ attorney, Sheriff Kumba Jobe, was not present.
The case was postponed for plea negotiations after Justice Jaiteh ordered the accused to be sent to Mile 2 Central Prison due to the absence of legal representation.
