The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) has arrested a suspected migrant smuggler following the interception of 66 suspected irregular migrants at Brufut Tranquil in the West Coast Region.

The group was intercepted during a joint operation involving the GID’s Border Patrol and Migration Management Units stationed in Tanji.

The intercepted group comprised 26 Gambian nationals, 33 Senegalese, five Guineans, one Malian and one Ghanaian national.

The group included 51 males, 14 females and one minor.

The suspected smuggler is currently in custody as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the group’s clandestine movement.

The GID said the operation forms part of its ongoing efforts to combat irregular migration and disrupt the activities of human traffickers and migrant smugglers seeking to exploit Gambian territory as a transit point.

The department said the intercepted individuals also remain in custody while further investigations are conducted.

The latest operation underscores the GID’s continued efforts to strengthen border management and tackle activities linked to irregular migration.

The department reaffirmed its commitment to promoting safe, orderly and regular migration while working with relevant authorities and communities to address irregular migration.

The GID has also urged continued cooperation with security agencies and other stakeholders as authorities intensify efforts to monitor migration routes and disrupt migrant-smuggling networks.

By Adama Makasuba