Gambia Detains Syrian Investor, Following One Billion Cocaine Bust!

As Sultan Sweets And Restaurant Advertized For Sale

By Staff Reporter Malang Jammeh & Pa Nderry M’Bai

Mohammad Al-Ahmar, a Syrian born multimillion dollar investor in The Gambia, is the latest businessman to be arrested by the country’s anti narcotic unit, known as the National Drug Enforcement Agency, in short (NDEA), the Freedom Newspaper can authoritatively report. Mr. Al-Ahama, who is a trained Civil Engineer—bagged Middle Eastern education—notably from Dubai, and Pakistan, is the proprietor of the famous Sultan Sweets, and Restaurant, situated opposite the United States Embassy in Kairaba Avenue. He was picked up for questioning by the (NDEA), shortly after a Freedom Newspaper publication in which the paper reported that the erstwhile Guinean Navy Chief General Bubu was a frequent guest  at his restaurant, prior to Bubu’s secret absconding from the West African country. General Bubu had his assets, and foreign bank accounts frozen by the US State Department, for his alleged ties with South American drug cartels.

Explaining the circumstances surrounding, Mr.  Al-Ahmar’s arrest, our source who is an insider at the NDEA said the Syrian businessman is being investigated in regards to the recent cocaine bust, but the source was quick to add that he is not convinced that Al-Ahmar is associated with the drug scandal, which is a subject of local and international investigations. The source went on to explain that the state invites anyone suspected of having ties with General Bubu.

While adding that it is premature to pass judgment on the pending investigations on Al-Ahmar case, the source said the Syrian national has been detained in one of the detention centers in the Kanifing Municipality. 

Mr. Al-Ahmar spent about a decade in Saudi Arabia, before migrating to The Gambia in 2002, where he invested in Real-estate, tourism, Agriculture, and media, according to the point newspaper publication dated August 14^Th 2007.  See link to the story:  http://archive.thepoint.gm/art%20&%20C,%20TT,%20E%20&%20W200.htm  

Mohammad Al-Ahmar, is currently employing over 400 Gambians. He used to reside in the United States at some point, before exploring business ventures in Africa. The Gambia was his favorite spot, but today he is being investigated by anti narcotic drug officials in that country, sources said.

Meanwhile, the Freedom Newspaper gathered that the Sultan Sweets And  Restaurant is being listed for sale, according to the London based Garden City Real Estate website.  However, the site did not specifically state how much the Sultan Sweets and Restaurant was being sold for, but it invited prospective buyers to call the following phone numbers: Link:  http://www.gardencity.gm/contact.php?obj=Sultan+Sweets+and+Restaurant+for+sale+in+The+Gambia.%20%28gc910sp%29  

The Freedom Newspaper tried to reach the Banjul number, but the line was unreachable.  It is not yet clear what must have compelled the Syrian businessman to advertize for the sale of his Restaurant, what is evident though there are couple of restaurants, hotels, and Real Estates advertized for sale in The Gambia.  The multipurpose water sports, and fishing center situated at Denton bridge, Koboto Lodge Sanyang, Kemoto Hotel, Kiang, Kotu Suites Guest house and other local companies are being  advertized for sale.

Many foreign investors are winding up operations in The Gambia, following the one billion dollar cocaine bust uncovered in the impoverished West African nation.  The country’s President Yahya Jammeh recently declared his Government’s zero tolerance for drugs, and he also vowed to crackdown on drug traffickers.

Mohammad Al-Ahmar was still being held by the National Drug Enforcement Agency up to the time of going to press. There was no one available at Al-Ahmar’s  Kairaba Avenue Restaurant to answer to Freedom Newspaper phone calls.