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Gambia News: Eight Non Gambians Arrested At the Banjul International Airport

By Modou Jonga :

Prosecutor Abdoulie Ceesay, of the National Drug Enforcement Agency, has told the Brikama Magistrates' Court that eight Nigerian nationals were arrested by security personnel at the Banjul International Airport on 20 July, 2007 while they were about to board a flight out of the country.

The NDEA prosecuting officer made these remarks on Thursday 16 August, 2007 before magistrate E.F M'bai while the said arrestees are separately arraigned in court. All the accused persons who pleaded not guilty, were dragged to court by the state for alleged trafficking of cocaine by swallowing, contrary to section 43 of the Drug Control Act 2003, as amended.

The first accused person, Klement Ifeanyi Obriorah, is alleged of possessing prohibited drug being cocaine by swallowing seven hundred and ninety seven grams for the purpose of trafficking. The second accused, Okafo Francis Paul, is alleged to have swallowed one kilogram and one hundred and sixty-two grams of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking. Samuel Nwaiwu, third accused is alleged to have swallowed one gram four hundred and twenty-seven grams of cocaine for the said purpose. The fourth accused, Edi Banke Anthony is alleged to have swallowed eight hundred and seventy-three grams and twenty-two milligrams of the said prohibited drug for trafficking.

James Nicolas, the fifth accused person, is alleged to have swallowed one kilogram and four hundred forty grams of cocaine for the said purpose. The sixth accused, Aposo Mallachi Ngozi, is alleged to have swallowed one kilogram and four hundred and seventeen milligrams of cocaine.

Faith Chinomso Obatu, a female and the seventh accused person, is alleged to have swallowed nine hundred and nine grams of cocaine, while the eighth accused, Amanchuku Okafo is alleged to have swallowed eight hundred and eighty-four grams of cocaine for the said purpose at the Banjul International Airport, on 20 July, 2007.

After having taken their plea, the presiding Magistrate ruled that all accused be remanded in custody. Prosecuting officer Abdoulie Ceesay and Modou Jobe represented the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA).