The government has explained why investigations into more than two tons of cocaine seized at the country’s seaport taking long.
Gambian minister of interior Yankuba Sonko fielding questions from the country’s lawmakers said there cannot be a time-frame to an international investigation.
Mr Sonko said: “[In] international investigations, you cannot put a timeframe. You can [make] temporary seizures, temporary activities, until the main suspect is arrested. This is a criminal link, linking all the way to Ecuador – a lot of personalities are involved there, the Ecuadoran authorities are also investigating.
“We have to remember also that these drugs transited through many countries undetected until their arrival in The Gambia undetected. So if that chain has to be followed, revise back to where it originates, get all the required information to be able to charge them, not only putting them before the courts…
“Because if you put all the suspects before the courts here, that means the other suspects in the other countries will go scot-free. That’s going to be the end of the investigation.
“So this is why we are collaborating with international partners to make sure that the link is controlled from where they departed, in all transit areas and up to here. All we have as at now is only people we arrested here. We’re urging others to arrest others in other areas to dismantle the criminal gang.”
