Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambia Police Force has confirmed that a container reported to contain buffalo meat is currently aboard a vessel that arrived at the Port of Banjul on Thursday but says the shipment is not destined for The Gambia and will not be discharged in Banjul.
In a statement issued on October 8, police said inquiries with representatives of the vessel established that the container would remain on board while the vessel is in Gambian waters.
“The Gambia Police Force is monitoring the situation to ensure that the container remains on board while the vessel is in port,” the statement said.
The clarification follows reports raising concerns about buffalo liver allegedly being imported into The Gambia for human consumption.
According to information being investigated by the police, some of the liver being sold in The Gambia is sourced from buffaloes.
The police are also looking into claims that buffalo liver had previously been rejected in Egypt after food-safety testing reportedly found it unsuitable for human consumption.
An alleged source within the police said exporters may have subsequently sought markets elsewhere, including The Gambia. However, the claims about the safety and destination of the liver have not been independently established.
Police are now investigating the company reportedly linked to the importation of buffalo liver and are seeking to establish whether any previous containers carrying the product were discharged in The Gambia before the authorities were alerted.
The development has heightened public concern over the safety of imported meat and offal, particularly amid questions about the monitoring and inspection of food products entering the country through the port.
For now, police say the container that arrived aboard the vessel on Thursday will not be discharged at the Port of Banjul.
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