The Gambia Immigration Police have launched Operation Zero Departure against irregular migration to stem the tide of people leaving Gambian shores on boats in search of the proverbial green pasture in Europe.
Before the start of the new anti-immigration crusade, immigration officials say some significant progress has been made in reducing the dangerous journey. In Gunjur, 25 people were apprehended as they were about to embark on a perilous migration journey. There were two non-Gambians among the 25 intercepted. One is Ivorian, and the other is Sierra Leonean. Three females were also among those preparing to leave Gunjur for Europe in the canoe. According to the Immigration Police, each of these would-be migrants paid the smugglers about D.55,000 each.
The Gambia Immigration Police Commissioner of Operations, Babucarr Janneh, stated: “We apprehended them just as they were about to board a boat from Senegal. It is critical that, in addition to engaging potential migrants, we also have public support. A non-Gambian provided the information that led to the decision to cancel the dangerous trip from Gunjur. However, the group was discovered in a Gambian compound “.
The stiffer side of the law on migrant smugglers
Immigration officials have stated their intention to halt any activity related to the deadly boats en route to Europe. According to Foday Gassama, the GID Commissioner of Migration Management, the police intend to use the harsh side of Gambian criminal law against migrant smugglers.
“We will charge you with murder if you organize any departure and someone dies.” Even if the latter does not intend to do so, we will pursue him for his reckless cupidity, knowing that death could be the ultimate result of what they do. We’ll bring all of the evidence to ensure that such a person is found guilty of murder. Even if the people do not leave, we will charge them with attempted murder. So this is a warning to smugglers. We take this very seriously, and we will use every stringent law available to ensure that they spend a long time in prison. This has to stop. People are dying, and they continue to profit materially and financially while endangering the lives of our youth.
Nightly raids, and hotspots surveillance step up
The Gambia Immigration Police now conducts nightly raids on hotspots, coastal departure points for would-be migrants, and estuaries of the Gambia River suspected of serving as points of convergence for traffickers and their clients.
Foday Gassama elaborates. “We’ve discovered that they’re using bolongs and creeks along the river to get to the open ocean. When we tighten in one place, they spring back in another. According to reports, some boats have left this area for the open sea. We now have eyes in places like Lamin Lodge, and similar places will be monitored “According to a senior Immigration officer.
“We may not be present in every location at the same time. That is why the public must report any suspicious activity to assist us in responding with the sole goal of saving lives “Gassama pleaded.
Following a period of relative calm, The Gambia has recently seen an increase in the number of boats transporting irregular migrants to Europe. Twenty people were confirmed dead in the perilous journey in October alone, with two boats reported missing. According to immigration officials, the new patrols are intended to deter migrants from embarking on the perilous journey.
