Gambia’s Anti Narcotic Director, IGP Badjie, And Others Accused Of  Siding With Drug Lords

Majang Is The Gambia’s Top Drug Lord

By Our Confidential Police Informant

Gambia's National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) has the unenviable reputation of being one of the most discredited institutions among the country's security establishment. And the incredibly dampen CV of its reigning Director General, Bun Sanneh, alongside some other key figures within his dented management team, makes a rather unpalatable combination, but such a powerful force within the corridors of state power.

Bun is widely considered as among the most highly corrupt figures in the country, hence his susceptibility to bribery, which makes him easily penetrable by drug barons. But unfortunately, like the trend is in Gambia today, he happens to be a favourite to the Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh.

But it follows that it is not quite uncommon to hear junior staffers at certain key institutions in Gambia complaining about the disruptively corrupt nature of leaders at their various places of work, and always such complaints are dismissed simply as mere jealousy and hate, especially if they are directed towards presidential favourites. And the result is continued perpetuation of these corrupt practices at the detriment of the ordinary Gambians.

The Freedom Newspaper has stumbled upon incriminating information, implicating Bun Sanneh and a key ally of his, Ousman Sanneh, at the agency. A highly placed source who wished to remain anonymous alleged that Bun Sanneh and his Operations Director, Ousman Sanneh, have been playing accomplices to known drug dealers in the country.

''We do not hate Bun Sanneh and his Operations Director, Ousman Sanneh, but we just want to let you know that these people have violated the rules and are not working for national interest,'' the official said, directing his complaint to Gambian leader, Yahya Jammeh.

The whistleblower who said that as an officer of the National Drug Enforcement Agency one is expected to ensure that no drug enters the country, expressed dismay at the blatant defiance of Bun and his Operations Director, whom he alleged to have befriended well-known drug dealers in the country.

''I swear to God, these two are friends of well-known drug dealers like the country's Inspector General of Police, Ensa (Jesus) Badjie, and Boy Bansang'', he said. Boy Bansang is a notorious gang leader who seems to have immunity from prosecution in Gambia. This is not the first time the head of the Gambian police has been named in criminal activities. His involvement in dubious dealings are open secret in the country, and this is no surprise as he too is among the presidential favourites. But our source challenged the relevant authorities, specifically the Gambian leader, to check into Jesus’ phone record to ascertain his accusations. ''These are people whom you trust, but they are not working for national interest,'' he said.

Aware of the possibility of business as usual, that is, the eventual dismissal of his complaint, especially given his choice of medium to highlight this concern, the source provided for the Gambian leader telephone numbers of one of the alleged accomplices of Inspector General Ensa Badjie, Boy Bansang: 7824438/9909358/6471363. ''Gamtel will tell you if I am wrong or right,'' he said, urging the president to ''check with the OMC.''

To back up his claim, our whistleblower pointed to a case that he said has now lasted for about a year and half - NDEA vs Ebrima Jawara, Saikouba Jammeh and Abdoulie Touray. He narrated how personal grievance is influencing the case involving these people, given accounts of how the NDEA top brass uses stage managed witnesses to crucify innocent people as scapegoats. He cited an occasion where Magistrate Edrisa Fafa Mbai acquitted and discharge the boys facing trial on drug acquisition charges, only for them to be rearrested outside the court room, on the orders of Bun Sanneh, and taken straight to Mile 2 (Central Prison).

''Until now nothing has been done about their case,'' he said. ''The office refuses to produce witnesses as a way of delaying their trial.''

Making reference to a remark made by celebrated Gambian preacher, the late Bun Jeng, who famously said that the reason why drugs cannot be stopped from circulating within town is because the drug law enforcement authorities are dealing with the suppliers, the source went on: ''We all know Bun Sanneh and Ousman Sanneh from many years back. Their salaries cannot possibly have given them what they have today. Where do they get the Money from?''

He also highlighted a worrying trend of nepotism within the police, and challenged Interior Minister Ousman Sonko to defend how the wife of a particular friend of his, Manjang, the country's major drug lord got into the police. He needs to explain how drug lord Majang's wife was hired.

''Send your people to see Manjang's compound in B1 Bakoteh Housing Estate. No officer can arrest these people. Why? Because of their link with NDEA and the minister,'' he said.

Concerned about the attitude of the Gambian government towards Freedom Newspaper, the source sought to assure President Jammeh that the US based online paper could serve as a valuable tool for him to make out who is really good for his development crusade and who is an obstacle.

''We cannot report to the internal media because they will not take our complaints. Do not hate Freedom, they serve as a perfect medium that you can view and know what is going on within departments whose leaders do not serve the interest of Gambians. We do not just write to freedom because we want to destroy, but to let you know what is going on in your government, because so-called leaders of departments like this one are not honest. I swear to GOD.''

The source went on to assure the president that if he investigate he will ''come to know the truth. The AG Chambers, he said, has since made a decision on the case of these boys. And it is clear now that it cannot proceed. But because Ousman Sanneh had sworn that if he did not lock them up in Mile 2, the country's notorious central prison, he would sleep with his mother, they have been doing all they can to keep these innocent people in jail, with clearly no course against them.

''Which part of the government act says that one is right to keep their wife as their personal secretary and adviser?'' he asked, and he went on, ''find out from Bun Sanneh and he will tell you.''

ENDS: 12/29/09