A Senegalese gendarmerie patrol team has been accused of illegally crossing The Gambia’s border to arrest a Gambian national accused of drug trafficking. 

The Point newspaper reported that Sulayman Trawally, a native of Garawol Kuta village in the Upper River Region, was shot in the hand before his arrest and extradition to Senegal last Saturday. Mr. Trawally is in detention in Tamba Counda, Senegal.

“The Senegalese gendarmerie intercepted someone with suspected cannabis. When the suspect was interrogated by the gendarmerie, he confessed that it was Sulayman Trawally who sold him the cannabis. Apparently, the Senegalese gendarmerie went for Trawally. Upon arrival, they open fire which resulted to his injury,” an eyewitness told The Point. 

Mr Trawally’s brother Baba Seedy Trawally, dismissed claims that he was a drug trafficker. 

“It is totally false. The Senegalese gendarmerie heavily armed arrives in the village, open fire more than 10 times. The entire village was panicking and people started running. They met my younger brother in our compound, and as he prepares to go and take shower. They open fire on him and injured his hand,”

Seedy Tarawally told The Point. 

“I can clearly tell you that as I’m speaking at the moment my brother is currently admitted at the hospital in Tamba Counda, Senegal. The government should come to our aid or else we will even migrate from the village. We want the government to either help us with a PIU Camp or a Military base.”

The spokesperson of The Gambia Armed Forces, Major Lamin K. Sanyang, has been contacted for comment.