Gambiaj.com – Senegalese authorities have dismantled a major network responsible for smuggling illicit substances into the country from The Gambia. The operation, carried out by the Central Office for the Repression of Illicit Drug Trafficking (OCRTIS), led to the seizure of 1,156 ecstasy pills and 132 kilograms of Indian hemp between Dakar and Kaolack.

The dragnet, orchestrated by the men under the command of exceptional class divisional police commissioner Alassane Niane, marks a decisive blow against drug traffickers who have been exploiting the porous borders between The Gambia and Senegal. Commissioner Niane, who recently assumed his role as head of OCRTIS, wasted no time in targeting this network.

The crackdown began on August 20, when OCRTIS operatives arrested one Mboob (name witheld), a dealer who was transporting 205 ecstasy pills and 25 grams of the same substance from The Gambia to Dakar. Under questioning, Mboob revealed the identities of his suppliers, leading to further raids that uncovered a cache of drugs and trafficking equipment in Gadaye and resulted in the arrests of several other gang members.

The operation also extended to the Karang area, where the regional narcotics brigade (BRS) of Kaolack seized 68 kilograms of Indian hemp. The drugs were abandoned by a carter who fled upon sensing the presence of law enforcement officers. The suspect is currently at large, with authorities actively pursuing his capture.

This latest bust highlights the persistent challenge of cross-border drug trafficking between The Gambia and Senegal, as well as the determination of Senegalese authorities to combat the flow of illicit substances into the country. The OCRTIS has vowed to continue its crackdown on drug networks, with further operations expected in the coming weeks.