The Intercepted Would be Migrants
By Fatou Sillah
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID), in collaboration with the State Intelligence Service (SIS) and other partners, has successfully intercepted more than 120 individuals attempting to migrate irregularly. The operations also resulted in the return of 27 Gambians from Mauritania.
On April 19, 2025, a joint operation between the GID and SIS, based on intelligence from the SIS, led to the interception of eight individuals suspected of preparing for illegal migration. The operation took place in Jambur, where authorities apprehended the group, which included two Gambians, five Senegalese, and one Nigerian. One suspected smuggling agent was also arrested. The individuals were transported to the Tanji Border Patrol Unit for further processing.
During the subsequent investigation, GID officials identified Lamin Jawara as a key suspect. Authorities also discovered connections to Lamin Jammeh, an individual already under investigation by the GID, who allegedly orchestrated the recruitment and payment collection for a European migration route.
In a separate operation on April 23, 2025, a team from GID and SIS intercepted 77 would-be migrants in Sanyang at around midnight. The operation also involved the seizure of a seven-passenger van and nine gallons of fuel. The group included 36 Gambians, 22 Guineans, six Malians, two Nigerians, and two Senegalese, among them seven women and five minors. Investigators learned that the group had been housed in a compound in Jalabang before being moved to Sanyang. According to witness statements, Saikou Camara, a resident of Farato, is suspected to be the main organizer of the operation. Camara allegedly charged individuals between D20,000 and D50,000, promising to facilitate their journey to the Canary Islands via what he described as a legitimate migration route. While authorities dispatched a team to arrest him, Camara was reportedly not in town at the time.
Sulayman Sambou, Acting Public Relations Officer for GID, noted in a third operation on April 27, 2025, the interception of another 37 would-be migrants, all Guinean nationals, including 23 women, 14 men, and seven minors.
“From the report, you can understand that GID is doing its best but beside the effort that we are making, we are encountering a lot of difficulties, most especially with regards to the fact that we have other people from other countries that are taking the Gambia as a transit point. You can see from this, we have a lot of foreigners, foreign nationals that are taking Gambia as a transit point and this is getting out of hand, it’s becoming so much difficult for us,” He Said.
In a related development, GID Director General Ebrima Mboob confirmed the return of 27 Gambians from Mauritania. Accompanied by Saikouba Jarju, Deputy Head of Mission at the Gambian Embassy in Mauritania, the returnees were repatriated as part of ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration.
Mboob praised Mauritania’s internal security measures, noting that authorities there have instituted stringent regulations, including the requirement for two Mauritanians to vouch for an individual’s presence in the country. He also highlighted the complexities of acquiring work permits, which he believes will aid in enforcing immigration policies more effectively.“One of the good accounts of what we get to understand about the 27 that are returning or have returned today is that the Mauritanian authorities have also taken up very good regulations in terms of internal security. One of it is that there are requirements that one should meet before you can stay in the country. And according to reliable sources, you need to have two Mauritanians to attest on you, your presence in Mauritania,”
“And in the same way, when you apply for naturalization here, you need to have two referees that will attest to your good behavior, your character, at least to have a written attestation of who you are in the Gambia. So I’ve come to realize that there are so many procedures that are definitely entangled in the procedure of acquiring a work permit, which is of course very, very good for immigration enforcement,” He Said.
Irregular migration continues to be a significant challenge for The Gambia. The latest figures indicate a sharp rise in the number of migrants attempting to reach Europe via the Atlantic route, with a 160% increase in arrivals to Spain’s Canary Islands in 2024 compared to the previous year. Between January and July 2024 alone, over 19,700 migrants embarked on the perilous journey, with nearly 5,000 lives lost in the process.