The Gambia is set to deport 33 undocumented migrants back to their home countries for illegally residing in the country. 

This moves comes as the nation’s Immigration Department launched a new operation called  “Immigration enforcement” that seeks to curb irregular migration activities. 

Speaking at a media briefing on Monday (5 August) at the Immigration base in Tanji, Sulayman Kujabi, GID Commissioner of Operations, revealed that 38 undocumented migrants have already being prosecuted before the Brikama Magistrate’s Court for crimes they committed.

He said the migrants who were convicted at the court include 15 Guineans , 1 Malian, 5 Senegalese , 2 Nigerians, 3 Ivorian , 11 Sierra Leoneans and 1 Benin national. The remaining 5 migrants have pending cases at the court.”

Commissioner Kujabi added that “381 individuals were initially apprehended out of which 40 are Gambians , 13 Guineans Bissau nationals, 84 Guineans, 52 Senegalese, 6 Mauritanians, 5 Malians, 89 Nigerians, 2 Benin and 77 Sierra Leoneans, 11 Ivorians, 1 Liberian and 1 Nigerien . Out of this 381 individuals 303 were able to regularise their stay.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba