Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Police in Brikama have launched an investigation into the death of a 19-year-old identified as Dawda Ceesay of Manduar, in what is suspected to be another tragic case linked to the consumption of the deadly synthetic drug locally known as kush.

According to a police notice issued Friday, Ceesay was rushed to the Brikama District Hospital after reportedly consuming the substance but later died. His body has since been moved to the hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.

“The Gambia Police Force strongly warns the public, particularly young people, against the consumption of kush and other harmful substances,” the statement read, stressing that the narcotic is claiming lives at an alarming pace.

This latest case adds to a growing list of kush-related deaths in the country. Over the past year, health officials and law enforcement agencies have raised concerns about the surge in fatalities, particularly among young men.

Medical experts have described kush as a highly toxic mixture of psychoactive chemicals and plant matter, with effects ranging from hallucinations and aggressive behavior to kidney failure and sudden death. Despite repeated warnings, the drug continues to circulate in communities, often sold cheaply to lure vulnerable youths.