By Sering Mass Jallow
The Gambia Police Force in collaboration with other security agencies have stepped up operations along Jinack coastal corridor in the North Bank Region to curb irregular migration and prevent loss of lives at sea, the police said in a recent statement.
The joint operation carried out on Monday, January 5, targeted Jinack Village and other offshore points frequently used by migration facilitators. It was led by the North Bank Regional Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Sowe, as part of ongoing intelligence-led efforts to dismantle smuggling networks and strengthen community-based early warning systems.
A multi-agency task force comprising the Gambia Police Force, Immigration Department, State Intelligence Services (SIS), Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG), Fire and Rescue Services, Navy, and the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) in Kerewan participated in the operation.
The exercise focused on shoreline surveillance, inspection of canoe movements, and monitoring access routes exploited by facilitators. Meanwhile, police reported the interception of 10 unregistered motorcycles, locally known as Jakartas, suspected of being linked to smuggling activities. The riders were seized for further verification.
Authorities also engaged local community leaders and residents, underscoring the critical role of community cooperation in curbing irregular migration. “Community support remains central to preventing practices that endanger lives and national security,” the police statement noted.
The Gambia Police Force and its partner agencies reaffirmed their commitment to ongoing patrols, community engagement, and regional collaboration to dismantle smuggling networks and reduce dangerous sea crossings along the Jinack corridor.