Magistrate Pa Harry Jammeh of "Kanifing Court" in the second Gambian city of Serre Kunda, Wednesday sentenced five Senegalese men to 18 months in jail with hard labour after being found guilty of "unlawfully entering Gambia with firearms".

"You are nothing but a bunch of bandits with an innate desire to cause havoc," Magistrate Harry Jammeh told the men, who claimed to be Senegalese customs officers.

"Your actions are deplorable, geared towards threatening the peace and security of this country. Therefore, you deserve maximum punishment so as to deter others," he added.

The magistrate further stressed that the jail sentence must stand, as the convicts would have no option of a fine and that they would be deported to Senegal after serving their sentence.

He ordered Gambian security authorities to confiscate the weapons and a canoe in which the five men were caught sailing onboard.

"We are going to appeal against the ruling," defence lawyer Antouman Gaye, immediately interjected after the verdict was pronounced.

"The magistrate ignored all the things I said in my plea of mitigation and instead passed a maximum sentence" on Serigne Ngum, Pap Drammeh, Saidou Cham, Yusu Jobe and Alieu Cham, lawyer Gaye cried.

Gambian security forces arrested the men on 6 February 2007 and charged them with illegally entering Gambian territorial waters with three AK-47 rifles, .93mm calibre, magazines with 15 live rounds, among other ammunition.

But they bitterly denied the charges in court.