By: Nyima Sillah
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Defense and Security on Tuesday presented its Report on the alleged importation of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, imported into the country by GACH Security Company Ltd in 2019, before the National Assembly.
Speaking during the presentation of the report, Honorable Dawda Jawara, said the committee was tasked with the responsibility to find out whether and when firearms were imported into the country.
Among other things to find out he said the terms and conditions of the license to import firearms, the regulatory framework for the storage and sale of firearms, as well as the adequacy of the legislation providing for regulatory environment of the subject matter.
He explained that the Committee adopted the methods of gathering information to make its findings and draw its conclusions which it relied on as the foundation to make concrete recommendations. And the Committee endeavour also to take the following initiatives and called witnesses, called for documents and conducted site visits.
Honorable Dawda Jawara noted in his deliberation before the Standing Committee on defense and security that the IGP revealed that on the 8th of June 2018, his office received an application for license to import hunting firearms from Mr. Alhagie Sillah Managing Director of GACH for Security Company.
He also said that the IGP indicated that on the 9th January, 2019 a 20-foot container NO. MRKU9627253 arrived from Turkey in the name of GACH Security Company as consignment was upon inspection at the Gambia Ports Authority by security agents who found out that it contained 1263 pieces of various kind of shotguns in 252 boxes.
Adding that, the consignment includes 900 pieces of crossfire single barrel model BR32 wooden forend, 300 pieces of crossfire single barrel model BR33 polymer forend, 50 pieces of crossfire pomp action BR18 and additional 3 pieces of crossfire magazine fed shotgun.
He stated that the IGP reported that the panel was instituted to probe into the matter and advise his office accordingly. The team visited the container at the GPA and made a thorough check on each carton to verify the type of arms and their quantity.
In the findings from Abubakar Jawara CEO GACH Security Company he said that GACH Security Company confirmed his ownership and importation of 20-foot container with serial No. MRKU9627253 from Turkey. Mr Jawara indicated that when he went to Turkey he found out that the types of hunting guns applied was not available in the market and then decided to bring hunting guns.
He added that, he wrote to the office of the Inspector General of Police informing him of the types of hunting guns that he wanted to bring and copied his lawyer Mr. Tony Mendy as the container was not loaded at the time. And that since the supplier insisted that the container will not be loaded until he get approval from the Gambia Government.
Mr. Jawara said, when he finally got approval from the office of the Inspector General of Police, he sent the said approval letter to the supplier in Turkey who loaded the container and sent it to him in The Gambia.
He further explained that, on the 11th June, 2020 the committee visited the warehouse of GACH Security Company Ltd in order to assess the suitability of the place to store the imported firearms and enquire from the company’s understanding to the regulations guiding the sale and distribution of the guns.
However, the report was adopted and approved by the National Assembly members.
