Gambia Detains Two Anti Narcotic Officials

…Amidst Corruption Allegations At Sibanoor

OC Samba Juma Camara And His Assistant Detained

By Staffer Reporter Bakary Gibba & Pa Nderry M’Bai

Two senior officials of Gambia’s National Drug Enforcement Agency have been arrested, following their alleged involvement in facilitating the release of suspects linked to drug trafficking, the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. The suspects were recently nabbed with a large quantity of marijuana—only to be released on bail by the NDEA command in Sibanorr. The conditions attached to their bailing never went down well with some local staffers of the NDEA—amidst allegations of official corruption.

Among those arrested were: the officer commanding Sibanorr, in Foni Bintang Karanai District Samba Juma Camara and his Deputy Jerry Jarju. The men are currently detained at the Mile Two Central Prisons in Banjul, where they have been held since the commencement of the Kanilai International Festival, sources said.

It is not clear as to what extent the arrested drug squad officials were involved in the bailing of the said drug dealers, but sources said three NDEA agents—all of whom natives of Kanilai—the home village of President Jammeh reported OC Camara, and his assistant to  the Director General of the National Drug Enforcement Agency Ben Jammeh. 

The NDEA Chief then ordered for an enquiry into the matter, which led to their arrest, and subsequent detention at the Mile Two Prisons, sources here said. The men were detained in two different locations: Bakoteh, and Kairaba police stations respectively—before being remanded at the state central prisons in Banjul.

OC Camara and his assistant have been suspended from the Force—pending the completion of the investigations, sources familiar with the case told the Freedom Newspaper.  If convicted, both men risked having their services terminated. 

Samba Juma Camara enrolled into the defunct National Gendarmerie in the early 80s, before joining The Gambia police Force. He spent seven years working at the Brikama police station. He later moved to the National Drug Enforcement Agency, where he rose to the rank of officer commanding Sibanoor station.

Meanwhile, speaking during the passing out ceremony of army recruits, President Jammeh vowed to make The Gambia a drug “free nation.” Mr. Jammeh  warns security officials engaged in drug trafficking to quit or risked being jailed. He said his Government has zero tolerance for drug trafficking, and that soldiers linked to the practice would live to regret it if caught.

Also in the news, this paper has been reliably informed that President intends to officially introduce his new wife Alima Sallah to the nation in the coming July 22^nd celebrations. Madam Sallah is currently in the United States—amidst mounting tensions at the state house, as First Lady Zeinab Suma Jammeh reached divorce settlement with the head of state. Reports say the First Lady has since left Banjul for Morocco—her country of origin.