By Momodou Justice Darboe
A Gambian and a Lebanese have been arrested by the police over the seizure of a 20-foot container containing large quantities of cocaine.
Mahdi Tajudinn and Ossama Mahmood were said to be helping the police in their investigations in the cocaine matter.
Addressing the media on the cocaine seizure, the deputy public relations officer of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia, DLEAG, Mrs Ndimballan, explained that the cocaine was discovered last Saturday in Banjul by labourers who were helping offload a container. The container was part of a consignment of 30 by 20 ft containers of white crystal sugar ordered from Toyoto Tsusho Sugar Trading company based in the UK by a Mauritanian businessman Sidi Ahmed.
Ndimballan further explained: “While offloading the sugar at his shop at Picton Street in Banjul, the labourers discovered two loose bags containing 20 blocks and 6 blocks of what was suspected to be cocaine respectively.
While the DLEAG deputy spokesperson could not immediately give specifics in terms of the quantity and the worth, Mrs Ndimballan said the seized drugs were cocaine – and it was the labourers who informed the buyer of the sugar, Sidi Ahmed, who also called the attention of the supplier, Mahdi Tajudinn, who happens to be sales manager of LFC.
“Mahdi then instructed Ahmed Ali, an emplyee of LFC to go and verify what was discovered and upon providing feedback, Mahdi came to the scene to see for himself.
“Having being shown the blocks, he instructed for the container to be escorted to their warehouse at Bond Road and then informed his uncle Muhamed Nasser, proprietor of Kairaba Shopping Centre. Mr Nasser then contacted Muhamed Zeid(Daa) who advised them to contact DLEAG which they did.`
The impounded container was addressed to Laura Food Company as per the bill of lading. It is a registered company in The Gambia, dealing in various types of foodstuff since 2016. The company has two directors/shareholders namely Osama Mahmoud (45%) and Hussain Seaf(55%), who is currently reported to be on holidays in Lebanon.
