Gambian authorities seize 1.2 tonnes of cannabis in raid

Gambian authorities said Wednesday they had seized 1.2 tonnes of cannabis and arrested six people, including three Senegalese nationals, in a raid outside the capital Banjul.

“The seizure took place last night following a tip off by villagers that some Senegalese and some Gambian nationals were engaged in illegal drug trafficking,” said senior drug enforcement officer Ibrahima Camara.

The raid took place in the village of Foni, some 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the capital.

The west African country has been targeted by Latin American cartels as a transit point for trafficking drugs, mostly cocaine, to Europe.

In June, Gambian and British police seized more than two tonnes of cocaine worth about one billion dollars in a small fishing village — a record haul for West Africa.