Gambia: Over $1bn worth of cocaine seized

  1. Posted on Wednesday 9 June 2010 - 09:18
    Kemo
    Image of Kemo
    Kemo Cham, AfricaNewsreporter in Dakar, Senegal
    Scary revelations from Banjul indicate that a joint operation between Gambian police and UK investigators have resulted in the discovery of a huge cocaine smuggling ring in Gambia. Reports say at least two tonnes of the drug worth over $1bn was seized just outside Banjul. It was headed for Europe.
    Gambia
    Accordingly, a number of suspected traffickers, including foreigners, have also been arrested and are under custody.

    The investigators also seized large quantities of cash and arms, the report added. A BBC report said that the Gambian authorities made the first arrests before calling in British agents to gather forensic evidence.

    Reports say agents from the UK's Serious Organized Crime Agency helped in Tuesday’s discovery of what has been described as highly concentrated cocaine. The drug was said to have been hidden behind a false wall in a warehouse basement an hour's drive from Banjul.
    The investigators are also said to be in possession of numerous revealing computer records.

    The BBC quoted one investigator closely involved with the case as saying: "We're excited about this one - we've got all the elements here."

    Analysts say this development confirms a switch in operation by the traffickers who abandoned the near failed state of Guinea Bissau after international attention was focused there, recently. Poverty and weak security and judicial system in the region have since been blamed for the problem, which is not making any sign of abating.

    Already in Gambia, senior security officers close to President Yahya Jammeh, including his most ever “trusted” police chief, are facing dozens of drug related charges, and the name of the Gambian leader himself have already been linked to some of these cases.

    And also, in a very popular treason trial, involving the country’s immediate former head of the army, the government is using notorious drug dealers once involved in the Guinea Bissau drug ring as witnesses against alleged coupists, as part of some blurred plea-bargain agreements.

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