One Sanna Yaffa, a twenty-nine (29) years old Gambian and a resident of Sutukoba Village, Upper River Region (URR) was clutched by operatives of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency The Gambia (DLEAG) stationed at Basse DLEAG Station on Thursday 30th September 2021 around 13:45 GMT onwards at Sutukoba village. He was arrested for being in possession of suspected prohibited drugs and Cannabis cultivation.
Operatives nabbed him with four (4) big bundles and six (6) plants of suspected Cannabis Sativa. Three (3) big bundles were concealed in a multi-colored bag and the other big bundle was concealed in a multi-colored poly bag. All four bundles were discovered in a store in the compound. The six plants of suspected Cannabis Sativa were on the other hand cultivated in a bathroom in his backyard.
He is charged for being in possession of a prohibited drug for the purpose of drug trafficking contrary to section 43(4)(e) of the Drug Control Act (DCA) 2003. His conduct also contravenes the provisions of section 36 (1) of the DCA 2003.
He is presently in custody helping the operatives in their investigations.
Section 36 (1) of the DCA 2003 prohibits a person from cultivating any plant from which a controlled drug or prohibited drug can be obtained except in compliance with 36 (2) of the Act. Section 36 (2) on the other hand permits the Minister of Interior on the advice of the Agency to specifically authorize any educational or research institute or any establishment or public laboratory engaged in research work to cultivate for scientific, experimental, or didactic purposes plants from which controlled drugs may be obtained. Section 36 (3) further states that the specific authorization referred to in subsection (2) shall state which plant may be cultivated and their quantities, as well as other conditions and restrictions the Minister on the advice of the Agency, may deem necessary.
The recent discovery of cultivation sites makes it necessary for us to draw public attention to these provisions. We want the public to know that as far as the laws of the country specifically the DCA 2003 is concerned, it is an offense and illegal for anyone to grow any plant from which a prohibited or controlled drug can be obtained except in compliance with section 36 (2) of the DCA 2003.
In a similar but separate development, one Amadou Touray, nineteen (19) years old Gambian and a resident of Dippa Kunda was arrested at the YBK Vehicle Check Point (VCP) with four (4) big bundles of suspected Cannabis Sativa. He was onboard a commercial vehicle heading towards Basse. The said suspected Cannabis Sativa were concealed in a multi-colored traveling bag.
He is presently in custody while further probing into the matter continues.
