Sillaba Samateh Alleges That  The Gambian Embassy In Belgium Tries To Bribe Him To Stop Talking About ‘Jammeh’s Drug Trade.’

Sillaba Samateh, a Dutch Gambian businessman, who recently earned his fame by exposing dictator Yahya Jammeh’s “ties with South American drug cartels” has confirmed that the Gambian Embassy in Belgium is trying to bribe him with a substantial amount of money in a bid to stop him from exposing his inner knowledge about the dictator’s drug trade.  “ I have been contacted by an official of the Gambian Embassy in Brussels to meet with them to discuss issues of mutual interest but I have been advised not to meet with the Gambian diplomat.  The whole idea of the proposed meeting is to silence me.  There is nobody on this earth who can stop me from talking about President Jammeh’s drug trade,” Sillaba Samateh tells the Freedom Newspaper on Sunday, while responding to our earlier journalistic query that he has been allegedly offered $10,000 dollars by an agent of the regime  to stop talking about the major cocaine catch in the Gambia.

“Do I look like someone accepting $10,000 dollars?  If I ever decides to accept money from them,  I will not take such a chicken change. Ten thousand dollars that’s nothing for me.  I will not sell my freedom for such a chicken change.  Yes, your source is right. I have been contacted by a top official of the Gambian Embassy in Belgium.  The Diplomat  told me that they want to have a sit down with me to discuss issues of mutual interest.  I could not give them an immediate response due to security related issues.  I have been officially advised not to meet with the Embassy staffer(s) in Belgium.  I told them that if they are serious about meeting me; they have to come to Holland.”

A source close to the Gambian Government said the regime has been working on extraditing Mr. Samateh, but for that to happen there must be an extradition treaty signed between the Dutch Government and the Jammeh regime. 

Mr. Samateh had a pending criminal case in the Gambia. His case was put on hold after Samateh reached an agreement with  the state to serve as a “Protected witness” in the case of former police chief Essa Badjie.  

Mr. Badjie is standing trial for defaming the President. The former police chief according to court records, had claimed in the past that he and others have been assigned by the head of state to sell cocaine on behalf of the President Yahya Jammeh.

While under state custody, Samateh jumped bail. He said his life was under threat after been tipped off by an agent of the National Intelligence Agency one Wonto Dampha, who informed Samateh that the President Yahya Jammeh was posed to assassinate him.

“ How can they extradite me from Holland? Holland is the only country which accepts extradited fugitives. It do not allow its nationals to be extradited to other jurisdictions. I’m safe here.  Don’t mind their silly talks.  They cannot extradite me from this country,” Samateh said.

According to Mr. Samateh, the Gambian Diplomat in question handles a key position at  the Gambian mission in Belgium. He said the official was not keen at engaging him on the phone for fear that his voice might be recorded.

Mr. Samateh said: “ They know that I usually record my conversations with Government agents. The official was not too keen at speaking on the phone. He told me that he will make an arraignment to meet with me in Holland since I refused to meet them in Belgium.”

“ There is so many things happening.  As we speak, a Dutch investor who I took to the Gambia, and was working with the regime has been arrested in France on drug related issues.  The Dutch national was close to the Jammeh regime. President Jammeh knows the guy I’m talking about.  He sidelined me as soon as he found his way into the system.  Drugs were being smuggled into shipped cars.”

Mr. Samateh said the regime is trying to buy him out to stop portraying the President as a drug dealer. He said he has a lot of information to share with the world about Mr. Jammeh’s nefarious activities in the region.

The Gambian Embassy in Brussels could not be reached for immediate comments.