The Gambia’s Drug Law Enforcement Agency (DLEAG) spokesman has defended his officers over the contentious escape of alleged drug lord Banta Keita.

Gambia police have declared fugitive Banta Keita a wanted man after DLEAG officers seized a container with cocaine at the Banjul ports in 2019.

Keita has been on the run since the drug bust and he is on the Gambia’s most wanted list. His accomplice is already being tried at the high court in Banjul.

“What we can do is we are going after him at that maximum level. We didn’t let him escape right. The case was identified,” DLEAG spokesman Ousman Saidybah, spokesman said.

“But let just clear that the operatives did their best and they were commended at the highest level by our partners. The boys are doing their best in the fight against drugs and drug crimes,” he added.

DLEAG said they have intensified their fight against drugs and have arrested thousands of suspects including Gambians and non-Gambians. 

Reporting by Adama Makasuba