Woman Fined D150,000 for Attempted Drug Smuggling Into Mile 2 Prison Concealed in Food Bowl

A woman has been fined a total of D150,000 after a Banjul court found her guilty on three counts of drug possession for attempting to smuggle narcotics into Mile 2 Central Prison concealed inside a bowl of rice.

Principal Magistrate M. Krubally of the Banjul Magistrates’ Court convicted Binta Jallow on all charges after she entered a guilty plea. She was fined D50,000 on each count, with a default sentence of one year’s imprisonment per count, to run consecutively should she fail to pay the fines.

Delivering judgment, Magistrate Krubally condemned the offence in strong terms, stating that attempts to introduce drugs into correctional facilities pose serious risks to prison security and may encourage criminal activity within detention environments.

According to the prosecution, led by ASP M.A. Mendy of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG), the incident occurred on 18 March 2026 when Jallow arrived at Mile 2 Central Prison carrying a bowl of rice intended for an inmate in the remand wing.

She was directed to the prison’s screening area, where Routine Sergeant Alassan Trawally conducted a search. During inspection, officers became suspicious after noticing an unusual sound when a spoon was inserted into the food, suggesting concealed items beneath the rice.

Acting on further examination, the bowl was emptied into a separate container, revealing two pieces of hashish and tablets of clonazepam hidden inside. Officers also discovered a quantity of cannabis sativa. When confronted, Jallow claimed she was unaware of the presence of any illegal substances.

She was subsequently handed over to DLEAG officers and transferred to the agency’s facilities, where the substances were weighed in her presence and documented. Forensic samples were later analysed by the Drug Analysis Unit, with reports tendered in court alongside the physical exhibits, cautionary statements, and weighment certificates.

The charge sheet contained three counts under the Drug Control Act 2014 (as amended): possession of 264 grams of cannabis sativa, 5.526 grams of hashish, and 4 grams of clonazepam.

Jallow was first arraigned on 23 March 2026, where she entered guilty pleas to all counts after the charges were read and interpreted to her in Wolof. The matter was adjourned to allow the prosecution to present the brief facts before sentencing.

At a subsequent hearing on 8 April 2026, defence counsel A.J. Njie appeared for the accused and successfully applied to correct errors in her name and address on the charge sheet. However, his request to withdraw the guilty plea and substitute it with a plea of not guilty was rejected by the court.

Magistrate Krubally ruled that the proper procedure required the prosecution to first present the brief facts as earlier directed before any reconsideration of the plea. The court declined the application and proceeded with the original plea on record.

When the prosecution later presented the facts in court, Jallow confirmed their accuracy, acknowledging that the substances had been found in her possession.

In mitigation, Jallow pleaded for leniency, telling the court she is the mother of two young children aged four and two, and that she is their sole caregiver. She further stated that her husband had left the country irregularly and had not returned. She also claimed that she had received the bowl from an individual identified as Ousman Ceesay and was unaware that it contained illegal drugs.

The prosecution confirmed that she had no prior criminal record.

In sentencing, Magistrate Krubally acknowledged her status as a first-time offender, her guilty plea, and her family circumstances. However, he stressed the seriousness of attempting to smuggle narcotics into a prison, noting that such conduct undermines prison security and the rule of law.

He therefore imposed a fine of D50,000 on each count, totalling D150,000. In default of payment, Jallow will serve one year’s imprisonment per count, with the sentences ordered to run consecutively, amounting to a maximum custodial term of three years.