The Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) has delivered a series of lectures to members of the Military Police Cadre of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) on issues related to drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

The presentations were held at the Gambia Armed Forces Training School (GAFTS) located at Fajara Barracks in Bakau, as part of ongoing awareness and capacity-building efforts targeting security personnel.

The session was facilitated by officers from DLEAG’s Drug Demand Reduction, Media and Advocacy Unit, who provided participants with insights into the agency’s mandate, functions and the impact of drug-related crimes on society.

Representing DLEAG during the training were Dawda Sanyang, Eliman Sarge and Tunko Sanneh.

During the presentations, participants were taken through the history of DLEAG and its responsibilities under Section 15 of the Drug Control Act 2003, which provides the legal framework for the agency’s work in combating drug trafficking and abuse.

The officers also discussed the current drug abuse situation in The Gambia, outlining the different categories of illicit substances and the health, social and legal consequences associated with their use and distribution.

According to the presenters, the engagement was aimed at equipping members of the military police with knowledge on the dangers of drug abuse and the legal implications surrounding drug trafficking, while strengthening collaboration between security institutions in the fight against narcotics.

The Commandant of the training school commended DLEAG for the initiative and expressed appreciation for the partnership between the agency and the armed forces.

He urged the participants to make effective use of the knowledge gained from the presentations in their professional duties.

DLEAG continues to work with national and international partners, including the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union, in efforts aimed at addressing drug trafficking and abuse through awareness, enforcement and advocacy initiatives.

By Adama Makasuba