By Seedy Jobe
The Gambia Immigration Department announced on Tuesday that it had intercepted more than 100 people attempting to migrate irregularly, underscoring the authorities’ ongoing efforts to stem unauthorized departures along the country’s coastline.
In a statement, the immigration service said its officers, working in coordination with the Gambia Police Force, stopped the group at Kamalo, near Denton Bridge in the Kanifing Municipality, on Jan. 6. The interception was described as part of a broader campaign to disrupt human smuggling networks and discourage dangerous sea crossings.
“In a concerted effort to curb irregular migration, the Gambia Immigration Department (GID), with support from the Gambia Police Force (GPF), intercepted over 100 would-be migrants at Kamalo, near Denton Bridge in the Kanifing Municipality, today, 6th January 2025,” the statement read.
Officials said preliminary investigations were underway to determine the origins of the operation, including the boat’s point of departure, the nationalities of those intercepted, and the individuals suspected of organizing the attempted journey.
“Preliminary investigations are ongoing to establish details regarding the background of the migrant boat, its point of departure, nationality aggregation, and the individuals suspected to be behind the operation.”
The migrants were being transported to the Tanji Migration Center, where they would undergo profiling and further processing, the statement said.
The immigration department reaffirmed its commitment to combating irregular migration while promoting what it called “safe, regular, and orderly” migration pathways. It also praised the police force for its support in the operation.
Irregular migration remains a persistent challenge for The Gambia, which has seen thousands of its citizens attempt perilous journeys across the Atlantic in recent years, often with deadly consequences.
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