A 53-year-old Nigerian, Celestine Godwin, has been arrested in The Gambia with 9,020 ecstasy tablets, suspected cannabis ruderalis, popularly known as skunk, and a machine believed to have been used to manufacture and process illicit drugs.
The development was disclosed by the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia, in a statement posted on Facebook and signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dawda Sanyang, on Friday.
The agency said the arrest represented a significant breakthrough in its fight against illicit drug trafficking, particularly as the discovery of the suspected drug-manufacturing equipment was the first of its kind recorded by the agency.
According to the statement, “a 53-year-old Nigerian national Celestine Ikenna Godwin” was arrested “in possession of 9,020 ecstasy tablets some quantities of suspected cannabis ruderalis (skunk).”
The agency added that the suspect “was arrested with a machine suspected to be used for manufacturing and processing illicit drugs.”
DLEAG said the discovery raised concerns about the possible establishment of clandestine laboratories for the production of synthetic drugs in the country.
“This development is particularly significant as the discovery of the equipment represents the first case of its kind recorded by the Agency in The Gambia,” the statement said.
It added that the development raised “serious concerns about the potential establishment of local clandestine laboratories for the production of synthetic drugs,” highlighting what it described as the evolving nature of the region’s drug-trafficking threat.
The agency said the seizure of the drugs and equipment showed its determination to tackle not only the movement of illicit substances into The Gambia but also attempts to establish local drug-production facilities.
“The drug seizure together with the processing equipment demonstrates the Agency’s determination to disrupt not only the movement of illicit drugs into the country, but also any attempts to establish facilities for drug production,” DLEAG said.
Godwin remains in the agency’s custody as investigations continue.
DLEAG said investigators were working to identify and dismantle any networks or individuals linked to the operation.
“The suspect remains in the Agency’s custody as investigations continue while the investigators pursue all necessary measures to identify and dismantle networks or individuals connected with this operation,” the statement said.
The agency described the operation as a major milestone in The Gambia’s fight against illicit drugs and warned traffickers and those attempting to establish drug-manufacturing facilities that the country would not provide a safe haven.