The Gambia Police Force has arrested five suspects in connection with a series of motorcycle-related robberies in the Kanifing Municipality and surrounding areas.

According to police, the arrests followed investigations into a robbery reported on December 25, 2025, in Jimpex, Kanifing, where a foreign national was attacked while crossing the road. The victim’s handbag, containing mobile phones, cash and bank cards, was snatched by suspects riding a motorcycle.

The complainant, a Swedish national, reported the incident to the Kanifing Police Station. With her assistance, police traced two of the stolen phones to one suspect, leading to his arrest. Further information obtained during questioning led to the arrest of four additional suspects linked to similar robbery cases.

Those arrested on Friday, January 16, 2026, are:

• Musa Bajaha, alias Yougou (Gambian)
• Bamba Mbye (Senegalese)
• Sulayman Badjie (Gambian)
• Sulayman Conteh (Gambian)
• Modou Sey (Senegalese)

Police said they recovered two iPhones, assorted electronic gadgets and D21,500, suspected to be proceeds of crime.

Further interrogations revealed that the suspects allegedly used the same motorcycle-based method to snatch handbags from victims on multiple occasions, including robberies reported on December 5 and December 10, 2025. A search at the residence of Bamba Mbye in New Jeshwang led to the recovery of a laptop and five iPhones, some of which were linked to previously reported cases.

One of the recovered items was confirmed to belong to an officer of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, while another phone was traced to a robbery case reported at Bakoteh Police Station and has been forwarded to Bakoteh CID for further action.

Police said investigations are ongoing to trace additional accomplices and recover more stolen items. All suspects remain in custody as questioning continues.