Police say they have arrested 12 alleged smugglers for attempting to smuggle essential food commodities such as bags of rice, sugar, onions and gallons of oil outside the Gambia.

The smugglers were arrested for violating the public emergency order that place price control and prohibit the smuggling of all essential items out of the country.

Detectives from the Anti-crime Unit of the police force conducted the arrest. 

Police spokesman ASP Lamin Njie said 

“The Anti Crime Unit intercepted and arrested about 12 people mainly Gambians, Senegalese and Bissau Guineans.

“We intercepted about 4,000 bags of sugar that are part of the items that were to be smuggled out of the country. These individuals are taking the items mainly to Casamance, Senegal, and Guinea Bissau.” 

ASP Njie added:  “We want the communities to help by informing the police at any point in time once they see vehicles or boats that are destined to smuggle commodities outside the country. 

“We want this information as quick as possible so that we will swiftly intercept the essential commodities.”

He said under the Gambia Emergency Powers Regulations 2020, “no one is supposed to export essential commodities outside The Gambia.”

The police spokesman said the alleged smugglers will be charged and prosecuted under the Emergency Powers Regulations Act 2020.