Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) says it has intercepted 2,041 people attempting irregular migration journeys between January and early November 2025, including 21 pregnant women and 77 minors.
The update was shared at the Department’s monthly briefing, which highlighted interception operations and migration trends recorded between 2nd October and 2nd November 2025.
According to GID spokesperson Siman Lowe, the interceptions were carried out through joint operations involving Border Patrol Units, the Migration Management Unit, the Navy, the Police Intervention Unit, and other security partners across coastal and inland routes.
Major Routes and Smuggling Networks Disrupted
The operations have disrupted several attempted departures to the Canary Islands, particularly from communities in the North Bank, West Coast Region, and Greater Banjul.
One of the first cases reported during the period occurred on 2nd October in Barra, where 39 migrants, including four women and a pregnant woman, were intercepted while preparing to travel.
Lowe said investigations revealed that payments for the trip had been made by relatives abroad, and that the group had attempted to move between Barra and Tanji to conceal their route.
Similar interceptions were recorded throughout October in Barra, Jeswang, Mamuda, Batokunku, Salaji, Kubune, and other coastal settlements.
In one case, officers intercepted a vehicle loaded with large quantities of fuel believed to be intended for a boat departure. Items seized included several gallons of petrol and multiple large barrels, and two individuals allegedly received more than D40,000 from the migrants for logistical support.
Lowe also reported that 40 Gambian migrants were repatriated from Mauritania during this period. Upon their return, the migrants told authorities they had experienced harsh treatment and human rights violations during their detention.
The boat that transported them to Mauritania was reported to have carried up to 200 people, although only a portion could be traced and returned.
Smuggling Agents and Recruiters Identified
Throughout October, several suspected migration organisers and facilitators were identified, including some believed to be operating from Senegal and Spain. Others remain at large. Lowe said that three suspected organisers are currently in custody and will be prosecuted, while additional investigations continue into alleged collusion by some security personnel.
He added that the GID is now focusing more on preventing migrants from gathering before departure in order to stop journeys before they reach the sea.
“Our focus is to stop them before they reach the coast,” he noted. “Once they disperse into the fishing communities and the boats are prepared, the risks become higher and the journey more difficult to prevent.”
Human Rights Concerns for Migrants Returned from Mauritania
In one operation, 40 Gambian migrants were repatriated from Mauritania through a joint effort involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State Intelligence Service. Returnees reported experiencing harsh treatment and human rights abuses during their detention in Mauritania, Mr. Lowe said.
From January to November, a total of 535 Gambians, 921 Senegalese, and 485 Guineans were among those intercepted, with others coming from different nationalities. Of the 2,041 people stopped, 1,693 were male and 348 were female, including the 21 pregnant women and 77 children under the age of 18.
Lowe urged families, especially those sending funds from abroad, to reconsider financing irregular migration attempts, warning that the journey remains extremely dangerous and heavily exploited by smuggling networks. “Many do not survive this journey,” he said. “Our operations are meant to save lives.”
