A senior European Union official has said that The Gambia is being used by Latin American traffickers as a transit point for drugs bound for Europe. 

Lucas Plazotto made the disclosure at a three-day security briefing training in Banjul.

Plazotto said the intelligence data came from Interpol, the international police body. 

“Additional data from Interpol also shows that the threat of organised crime poses in West Africa is subtantial, it warns that The Gambia is increasingly being used by traffickers as a transit point for for drugs bound for Europe from Latin America,” Plazotto told the opening of the training at Pencha Mi Hall in Kololi.

However, he lauded the efforts made by The Gambia government against organised crimes and illicit trafficking.

“As a committed partner, the European Union is pleased to contribute to the fight against insecurity and criminality, globally, in the region and in The Gambia in particular,” he said.

Meanwhile, representing The Gambia Police Inspector general, Commisoner Landing LK Bojang, said: “you would agree with me that the spate of transitional organised crime and terrorism affecting the region and the world in general is alarming.

“And we are fully aware that no police strategy can overcome these threats without an exchange of police information.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba