Three Youths in NDEA Net

The Daily Observer (Banjul)

Omar Wally

11 May 2011

Three young men have been arrested by the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) for drug trafficking.

Abdou Manjan, Sarjoe Badjie and Mamadia Trawally are currently in custody and are helping the Narcotics Agency in their investigations. Narrating the incident to reporters Tuesday at NDEA offices in Banjul, ASP Abdoulie Ceesay, the public relations officer of the Agency said Abou Manjan, an 18-year-old resident of Brufut village was arrested on 3rd May 2011 with three big bundles of Cannabis at Bulluck Checkpoint.

According to Ceesay, the accused was arrested around 10:35am while on board a commercial vehicle heading to the Greater Banjul Area, from Foni. “Upon suspicion, his bag of charcoal was searched by the officers at the checkpoint and three big bundles of cannabis were recovered inside the bag of charcoal,” he said. He added that the accused was arrested on the spot and escorted to Sibanor Police Station where he was charged and detained for further action.

The NDEA spokesperson also disclosed that Sarjo Badjie, a 25-year-old resident of Somita village in Foni was also arrested at Bullock Checkpoint on 8th May 2011 at about 7:30 am. He said: “Upon his arrival at the checkpoint, he was suspected of carrying drugs and his bag of charcoal was also searched and two big bundles of suspected cannabis was concealed inside the bag.” He added that the accused was arrested and escorted to Sibanor Police Station for further action where he was cautioned and charged.

Mamadi Trawally, a 37-year-old resident of Tanji village was also arrested at Bullock Police Checkpoint on 6th May 2011 with three big bundles of suspected cannabis concealed in three separate bags of charcoal. Ceesay said the accused was also heading to the Greater Banjul Area from Foni when he was nabbed. The accused was also taken to Sibanor Police Station. The NDEA PRO explained that Mamadi Trawally and Abdou Manjan are charged with Drug trafficking contrary to Section 43 of the Drugs Control Act, while Sarjo Badjie is charged for possession of prohibited drugs contrary to Section 35 of the Drugs Control Act.

Bob Marley Day

The anti-narcotics Agency spokesman called on the general public, particularly landlords to be more vigilant in respect of drug-related activities that might take place in their premises during Bob Marley Day [today]. “We urge the landlords to totally condemn it and not to allow anybody to engage in any drug-related activity in their premises,” he warned.

He also reminded all landlords, bar owners and night club owners about Section 4 Sub-Section 2 of the Drug Control Amendment Act 2010 which provides that ‘where a person is convicted of an offence under this act the court shall in person sentence and order the forfeit to the state any article, premises, money, building or other valuable consideration related to the offence.’

“Ignorance of the law is not an excuse. Nonetheless, we are informing them to be very much conscious and let them know that this provision exists,” he advised.

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