By Makutu Manneh
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has reported the interception of 62 individuals attempting to embark on irregular migration, commonly referred to as the “backway,” in two separate operations conducted in Banyaka and Bwiam.
In a press statement, the department disclosed that on Friday, April 3, operatives from the Tanji Border Patrol Unit and the Kartong Immigration Post, acting on intelligence provided by the State Intelligence Services (SIS), intercepted 38 prospective migrants in Banyaka Village. The group comprised 37 Malian nationals and one Guinean.
The GID further revealed that on April 4, police officers in Bwiam intercepted an additional 24 suspected migrants who had gathered in a compound in preparation for an irregular journey. This group included 19 Guineans, three Senegalese, one Gambian, and one Sierra Leonean.
“Within a span of 24 hours, a total of 62 migrants were intercepted as part of ongoing national efforts to combat migrant smuggling,” the statement noted.
The department emphasized that the incidents occurred during the Easter festive period, a time when smugglers often exploit reduced public vigilance and the country’s waterways to facilitate dangerous and unlawful migration attempts.
The Gambia Immigration Department urged members of the public to remain vigilant and to promptly report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest immigration office.
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