Court sentences drug peddlers to a fine of D50,000 and D150,000

By Yunus S Saliu

Magistrate Kanjura B Sambou of the Kaur Magistrates’ Court in Central River Region last week sentenced Alagie Ceesay to a fine of D50,000.00 in default to serve 1-year imprisonment for a drug trafficking offense.

According to Alagie Ceesay statement of offense, he was charged with having a prohibited drug in his possession contrary to section 35 (2) (a) of the drug control Act 2014 as amended.

Reading the particulars of the offense, Alagie Ceesay was on or about the 10th day of December 2021 at Nyokoi village in the Central River Region North of the Republic of The Gambia had in his possession 25grms of cannabis sativa, a prohibited drug, and thereby committed an offense.

In a similar case but different sitting, Magistrate Kanjura B Sambou of the Kaur Magistrates’ Court also fined Ali Bah the sum of D150,000.00 or in default to serve three years imprisonment for being in possession of a prohibited drug known as Cannabis Sativa.

According to his particulars of offense, Alie Bah on or about the 29th day of December 2022 at Jala Kunda village in the Central River Region North of the Republic of The Gambia had in his possession 2kgs of cannabis sativa and thereby committed an offense. However, these two peddlers, before Magistrate Kanjura B Sambou of the Kaur Magistrates’ Court, did pleaded guilty of the charges against them, while in his judgement, Magistrate Kanjura disclosed that use of illicit drugs is now rampant in the region. Noting that, the sentences will serve as deterrent to the drug users in the region, especially the youth.