Venezuelan Cocaine Plane Lands In Banjul!!!!

…Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh, One Of The Main Beneficiaries Of The Venezuelan Cocaine Money!!!

By Staff Writer Modou Sawaneh, Banjul

The tiny impoverished nation of The Gambia, is becoming a famous drug transit point, with Cambodian, Venezuelan and Moroccan drug lords, using the country, as a safe-heaven for drug trafficking, well placed sources in the heart of the Jammeh Government hinted today. A  Venezuelan plane carrying several tons of cocaine, recently landed at the Banjul International Airport, which was destined for an unnamed European countries. Banjul is the main focal point for the distribution of cocaine, which is now becoming a fast money making venture. Parts of proceeds derived from the cocaine trafficking were used to help fund third world economies, such as The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Guinea Conakry, according to Government sources in Banjul. Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh is said to be one the main beneficiaries  of the cocaine money.

A close associate of The Gambian President Yahya Jammeh was spotted at the Airport, shortly after the arrival of the Venezuelan drug plane. The official was at the airport to welcome the crew, who were hosted at a local Hotel in Banjul. The crew returned home, as soon as they handed the drug consignment to the relevant contact persons in The Gambia, said our sources.

Aviation sources said a sudden electricity failure hits the airport minutes, after the landing of the Venezuelan drug plane. The State House official helped to coordinate the unloading of the cocaine boxes, which were later moved to an undisclosed location, said our sources.

The Venezuelan plane has been frequenting Banjul in recent times. It has been gathered that the drug lords had close ties with Gambia’s President Yahya Jammeh. It’s reported that he is using funds derived from the cocaine trafficking to finance  Government projects.

The Reuters News Agency in its October 28^Th 2008,  edition reports that “A report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on "Drug Trafficking as a Security Threat in West Africa" singled out Guinea-Bissau, Gambia and Guinea as states which had seen a jump in foreign direct investment (FDI) and other inflows not clearly justified by economic performance.”

These countries are part of a West African region which U.N. anti-narcotics experts say is under attack from powerful Colombian drug-trafficking cartels which are channelling at least 50 tonnes of cocaine each year, and possibly nearly double that, through the area on its way for sale in Europe, said the Reuters report. The appreciation of The Gambian dalasi against major international currency, such as the US dollar, the pounds sterling and Euro has been attributed to the cocaine money, of which the Government is using to offset the looming inflation.

The Gambian dalasi currency also saw a rapid appreciation in late 2007, apparently unexplained by local economic conditions, said the Reuters news report. Foreign direct investments in these (three) countries, unexplained so far by their economic performance, have exploded. Remittances have grown. Even the currencies of the region are being revalued," UNODC executive director Antonio Maria Costa said while presenting his agency's report in Praia, Cape Verde.

                    Money Laundering

While the Jammeh Government is acting in concert with the Venezuelan, Cambodian and Moroccan drug lords to traffic drugs in Europe, reports have it that the administration is actively engaged in money laundering schemes. A Government representative has been task with facilitating the sale of the drugs.  Part of the proceed derived the from the organized crime drug ring are usually channeled to international bank accounts, said our sources.

Government sources in Banjul said the President’s private jet was being used to transport some of the drugs to Guinea Bissau, Conakry and Morocco. “ The United Nations Security Council should look into the activities of the Presidential jet. It’s being used for drug trafficking. That I can tell you. The President is a principal actor in this well organized drug trafficking taking place in West Africa,” said a source close to the President’s office.

Observers are increasingly concern over the growing presence of cocaine, marijuana and other narcotic drugs in the country. They say such illegal trafficking of drugs could tarnish the image of The Gambia, both locally and internationally.

There is no direct evidence of Al-Qadir’s involvement in the cocaine ring, but sources said such clandestine activities could help Governments to fuel social tensions in the region.

Senior Staff Writer Justice Sam contributed to the story.