Interior Minister Yankuba Sonko has conceded to claims some security officers are into drugs, telling members of the national assembly efforts are being perfected to identify them.
“I think I totally agree with you. In some instances, security officers are arrested. Just couple of weeks ago, some officers of the army are arrested. So I will not dispute your criticism but however, wherever you have good ones, you will still have bad ones among us. So we trying to identify them and weed them out if possible so that efforts to fight against drug abuse can be strengthened,” Mr Sonko told Banjul Central MP Muhammed Ndow who raised the issue at a session at the House on Wednesday.
Earlier on, the interior minister told members of the national assembly cogent efforts are being pursued to end cannabis use in The Gambia.
Mr Sonko said: “I’m pleased to inform the Honourable Members that the government of the Gambia through my ministry has designed and implement strategies to address the disturbing surge of cannabis abuse and trafficking covering supplies operation, that’s enforcement as well as demand reduction, public awareness sensitisation.
“In line with the national standard and best practices, non-custodial sentence measures such as community service, counselling and mentoring are provided for the first, second and third time offenders in cannabis possession cases.
“Additional efforts include upgrading of the drug demand reduction unit of the drug law enforcement of The Gambia to a directorate and the implementation of robust and accelerate public engagement sensitisation activities targeting mainly the youths who constitute the majority of the victims.
“Series of school outreach activities in the form of symposium, drama, debate, quiz competition are conducted in schools across the country alongside the establishment of the anti-drug clubs in several schools.
“Furthermore, DLEAG has signed an operational memorandum of understanding with their counterparts in Senegal and Guinea Bissau. Within the framework of this agreement, joint operations named, ‘Operation Open Roads’ are conducted with the aim of strengthening sub-regional cooperation in drug interdiction…
Also, serious lobbying with partners is in progress to construct a rehabilitation centre to cater for the needs of abusers. This will complement other efforts to reduce the demand since victims will have access to various support services to facilitate their reform.”
