Reports from ‘theVoice’ media has revealed a recent arrest of a Sierra Leonean, identified as Henry A. Conteh, and 12 Nigerians including two females, in Gambia, on allegations of ‘Scamming Online’.

According to thevoice, officers of Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Gambia (DLEAG), told them that its operatives received tip-off information about the conduct and activities of some people suspected to be engaged in criminal activities in Old Yundum, West Coast Region, and immediately sent a team to survey the said place after which on the 28th March 2022, around 15:00 hours GMT, another team was dispatched to raid the identified place which is an apartment at the first floor of a storey building in Old Yundum.

When the DLEAG operatives arrived at the said apartment and positioned themselves, they knocked on the door of the apartment and identified themselves as Narcotics Officers who wanted to conduct a search, but the occupants refused to open the door and the operatives had to forcefully break the door and enter the apartment.

Some of the occupants took to their heels and others tried to escape by jumping from the back door of the storey building. This action resulted in five (5) of them sustaining injury. All thirteen (13) of them were arrested and escorted back to the apartment where a search was conducted in their presence.

The Operatives said they recovered eighteen (18) laptops that were connected for use in the sitting room, (19) mobile phones, one (1) router as well as twelve passports bearing the names Ezechukwu Harrison, Atake Rita Ebaeta, Victor Chiemere, Daniel Chibuke Wildom, Chukwu Chibunna Wisdom, Madu Chidiebere Temple, Madu Chidera Stanley, Godson Ifeanyi, Okafor Alwell Chidera, Ibeagi Ebube and Madu Victor Chiagbanwe all Nigerian Nationals and there was also one Sierra Leonean passport without a photo bearing the name Henry A. Conteh.

According to the officers, no prohibited or controlled drugs were found in the scene. Five of the suspects who sustained injuries while trying to escape by jumping from the backdoor of the storey building were rushed to Banjulinding Clinic for medical attention. The suspects alongside the recovered items will be handed over to the appropriate competent national authorities (Police and Immigration) for further processing and necessary actions.

“It is important to disclose that this is the second time the agency has come across people suspected to be engaged in similar suspected nefarious online activities while hunting for prohibited and controlled drugs. On the 2nd February 2022, operatives registered a similar case that was handed over to the Police for further processing and appropriate legal actions. One of the suspects in that particular case was apprehended with some quantities of suspected prohibited drug” they added.

They ended by reminding the public to be vigilant and report suspicious criminal activities to law enforcement officers and stated that the safety and security of their families and communities should be their collective responsibility.