Banjul, The Gambia – June 26, 2025
The Director General of The Gambia’s Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG), Mr. Demba Ceesay, has issued a clarion call for stronger national and international collaboration in tackling drug abuse and illicit trafficking, as the country marked this year’s International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
Speaking at a commemorative event hosted by the President’s International Award in Banjul, Mr. Ceesay expressed gratitude to President Adama Barrow for entrusting him with the leadership of the agency and reaffirmed his team’s commitment to combatting the growing drug crisis in The Gambia.
“This year’s commemoration comes nearly one year after my appointment, at a time when drug abuse and trafficking are on the rise globally and locally,” said Mr. Ceesay. “The influx of synthetic drugs and new psychoactive substances continues to pose grave threats, particularly to our youth.”
Mr. Ceesay detailed the evolving nature of the drug trade, highlighting the spread of synthetic cannabis, crack cocaine, ecstasy, and other controlled substances in Gambian communities. He also noted The Gambia’s vulnerability as a transit point on the transatlantic cocaine route to Europe.
Reforms and Results
In response, DLEAG has undertaken significant internal reforms. According to the Director General, strategic restructuring in 2024 helped bolster operational effectiveness, leading to record-breaking drug seizures and arrests.
Between January and December 2024, the agency registered 1,208 drug-related cases and arrested 1,219 individuals, of whom 205 were foreign nationals from countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Pakistan, the UK, and the US.
Drug seizures during the reporting period included:
Cannabis Sativa: Over 1.9 tonnes
Cocaine: 125 kg
Hashish (Cannabis Resin): 14 kg
Skunk (Cannabis Ruderalis): 48 kg
Kush: 13.9 kg
Methamphetamine Tablets: Nearly 19,000
MDMA (Ecstasy) Tablets: Over 104,000
Crystal Meth, Tramadol, Clonazepam, and other prescription and designer drugs
Cannabis-related substances accounted for 54.7% of all cases, with emerging drugs like Kush and Methamphetamine contributing significantly to the remaining share.
Prosecution has also improved markedly. DLEAG successfully prosecuted 207 cases in 2024, with a 92% increase in the second half of the year following reforms within the agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Affairs.
Beyond Enforcement: Rehabilitation and Education
Mr. Ceesay emphasized that enforcement alone will not solve the country’s drug problem. “We have stepped up our drug demand reduction efforts through nationwide sensitization, school outreach, and radio programming,” he said.
A milestone initiative is the development of a national treatment and rehabilitation center in Tranquil, West Coast Region. Construction began in March 2025 in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission. Once operational, it will be the first such center in The Gambia.
Gratitude to Partners and Citizens
The Director General expressed appreciation for the support of local security institutions, including the Gambia Police Force, Immigration Department, Armed Forces, and others. He also thanked international partners such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), ECOWAS, the EU, and foreign missions, including embassies of Turkey, China, the U.S., and the U.K., for capacity-building support.
Special thanks were extended to the judiciary, media, and civil society organizations, as well as grassroots youth and women’s groups, for their role in prevention and advocacy.
To the public, Mr. Ceesay issued a call for vigilance and cooperation. “Law enforcement cannot be everywhere at once,” he said. “We need the public’s help to report suspicious activity and work with us to build drug-free communities.”
In closing, he commended his agency’s staff and the DLEAG Board for their unwavering dedication. “This fight belongs to all of us,” he said. “Together, we can protect our youth and secure the future of this country.”
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