By Buba Gagigo
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency in The Gambia (DLEAG) has announced the arrest of a 58-year-old woman from Sukuta in connection with drugs allegedly imported by her son from the United States of America.
DLEAG operatives seized 76 parcels of skunk weed weighing 42 kg and 800 g, along with 1,988 tablets of ecstasy, on Saturday, May 18, 2024. This operation followed the earlier seizure of 15 parcels of skunk weed from the same source on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
“In total, a record amount of 91 parcels of skunk weed and 1988 tablets of ecstasy were seized. This breakthrough disrupts the criminal activities of a major Gambian skunk and ecstasy trafficking ring based in Atlanta, Georgia – USA. The sender of the drugs is identified as 32-year-old Musa Keita, a Gambian based in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States of America. Shipping records indicate that Musa has imported into the Gambia since early 2021 a huge quantity of drugs in various consignments using unsuspecting container freight service providers. The boxes will often be labeled with fake names and telephone numbers and declared as food stuffs and medicaments for his mother,” DLEAG said.
According to DLEAG, Musa’s mother, Hulay Touray, age 58, of Sukuta, received the packages and served as the first link in the local distribution chain.
“Hulay is currently arrested and detained, while Musa remains a fugitive in the United States of America,” they said.
The Drug Law Enforcement Agency said Since COVID-19, ecstasy has become a ‘’drug of problem’’ for the Gambia as many young people, particularly girls, are into the abuse.