200 Drug Testing Kits For Gambia’s Drug Law Enforcement Agency

UK High Commissioner David Morley handing over the drug testing kits to Director General of NDEA Samba Gajaja (Photo Credit: James Philips)

David Morley, the British High Commissioner to The Gambia, on Wednesday presided over a donation of 200 drug testing kits to The Gambia National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDEA.

The kits, handed over to the NDEA at its headquarters at Pipeline, are intended to help the agency with its drug detection work across the country.   

The UK High Commission also donated a specialised incinerator to the NDEA in March 2013 to help them safely destroy seized drugs within The Gambia. 

Gambia refuses to cooperate with USA in combating drug trafficking

In March, the International Maritime Organisation (IMO)  says it will support illicit maritime activity in west and central Africa during a Ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin (Photo Credit: World Maritime News)

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How could such a grand scheme of illicit drug bank exist here without local backers, a local journalist asked. Picture: A fraction of over two tonnes of cocaine seized in Gambia in 2010. (Photo credit: Saikou Jammeh)

The Gambia: High Court Uphold Cocaine Sentencing

Cocaine bust, estimated to worth $1 billion, June 2010, Banjul

Gambia’s ex-top cop gets 10 years jail term for drug trafficking, other charges

The embattled top-cop was found guilty on Monday after a long-running legal battle

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Former Gambia police boss, Ensa Badjie has been on trial since 2010

Drug agency arrest suspected drug trafficker

News reports monitored on Gambia TV, GRTS revealed officials of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) have arrested and detained a Nigerian suspected of drug trafficking.

John Agwy, 32, who the NDEA described as uncooperative with investigators was arrested during the early hours of September 14, 2012 at the Banjul International Airport. He had flown into the Gambia on board an Arik Airliner from Nigeria.

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Hunger-Stricken Farmers said: We need seeds and fertilizer

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 Farmers in Lower Baddibou, North Bank Region and  of Jarra East, Lower River Region have told The Voice newspaper  this year’s farming season is the most difficult they ever lived.

“We lack everything that will make our work easy. Everything that will give us a good harvest - seeds, fertilizer, and even tools,” one farmer said.

“I cannot cultivate all my land because I did not have enough seeds. We were given government subsidized groundnut seeds but even that is very small,” said Mr. Ahamadou Jobe, Torroba village, who was speaking to this paper during a Gambia Red Cross food and fertilizer coupon distribution tohunger-stricken rural farmers.

Burning to curb Gambia’s drug habit

Gambia's Drug Squad destroys illicit drugs/PHOTO: Modou S. Joof

Gambia’s National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) on Tuesday set ablaze 3 tonnes, 15 kilos and 47 grams of cannabis, 8 kilos and 2 grams of cocaine, and 20 grams of heroin. 

Held along the Old Cape Road on the outskirts of the Town of Bakau on July 3, 2012, the agency said the exercise is meant to show seriousness in the fight against illicit drugs.

Gambia plagued by drug abuse and trafficking

Cocaine bust, estimated to worth $1 billion, June 2010, Banjul.

The Youth Consortium for Progress (YCF) has said in recent years, Gambia has beenplagued by the twin menaces of drug abuse and drug trafficking. 

The YCF said this has particularly affected the youths, encouraging a lifestyle ofcrime and addiction. As a result, youths are increasingly unprepared to pursue legitimate career paths as they often drop out of school. 

No Chance for drug dealers: President Jammeh

Gambian President, Yahya AJJ  Jammeh

Gambia’s President, Yahya Jammeh has reiterated that his government maintains its “zero tolerance” against drugs in the country, vowing not to “not give chance” to anyone at any cost.

His renewed frowns on drug trafficking into the country and its usage came Friday when he presided over the State Opening of the 2012 Legislative Session of the National Assembly in the capital, Banjul. 

Drug Agency Spokesperson presents 'Gambia’s drug habit' during a crime prevention course

Cocaine bust, estimated to worth $1 billion, June 2010, Banjul.

The Public Relation Officer National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) Mr. Abdoulie Ceesay has said that the Narcotic Court in Banjul is overburdened with a backlog of drug cases, while the prison is filled-up with drug inmates and trial prisoners.

One of the main objectives of imprisonment is to reform and rehabilitate offenders to become better persons in society after serving their jail terms, however, Mr. Ceesay admitted that most of the time, this objective may be defeated.

He was presenting a paper on “The Impact of Drug Abuse in The Gambia” during a-May 26 training for 30 participants on “peace building and crime prevention”. The training was organised by the Youth Crime Watch in cooperation with the US embassy in Banjul, The Gambia.