Three Government Workers Convicted in Cannabis Trafficking Case

By Louise Jobe

Magistrate A. Darboe of the Brikama Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 8 October 2026, convicted and sentenced three government workers after they pleaded guilty to possessing 44kg 402g of cannabis for the purpose of drug trafficking.

The court heard that officers arrested Yankuba Nyassi, Adama Tabally and Musa Jammeh at the Kalagi Military Checkpoint on 26 August 2026 after they found the suspected cannabis in a government vehicle. The three men initially pleaded guilty on the first day of the case, then when the case came up for sentencing, they changed their plea to not guilty. The case came up for the third time, and this was when they changed again to guilty.

When the case came before the court on Thursday for the testimony of the prosecution’s first witness, the accused persons told the court that they wanted to change their pleas to guilty. DLEAG prosecutor NCAS L. Bojang did not object to the application.

Magistrate Darboe subsequently allowed the change of plea and recorded guilty pleas from all three accused persons.

The prosecution charged the three men with one count of possession of prohibited drugs for the purpose of drug trafficking, contrary to Section 43(4)(e) of the Drug Control Act 2003.

The charge alleged that on or about 26 August 2026, at the Kalagi Military Checkpoint in the West Coast Region, Nyassi, Tabally and Jammeh possessed 44 kg 402 g of Cannabis Sativa, a prohibited drug.

In presenting the facts, Prosecutor Bojang relied on facts previously presented before the court. He tendered the accused persons’ cautionary statements, a weight measurement certificate and an analytical certificate. The court admitted the documents as exhibits.

Bojang also asked the court to return the government vehicle seized by the Drug Law Enforcement Agency of The Gambia (DLEAG) to the Ministry of Finance.

In sentencing the three men, Magistrate Darboe considered their guilty pleas, mitigation and expressions of remorse. The court also considered the seriousness and prevalence of offences involving controlled drugs.

Magistrate Darboe identified several aggravating factors, including the fact that the case involved drug trafficking. The court also noted that the three convicts worked for the government and used a government vehicle in the commission of the offence.

The magistrate said the use of public property to facilitate the offence constituted an aggravating factor. The court also considered the early guilty pleas, which saved judicial time and resources.

Magistrate Darboe sentenced each of the three convicts to a D350,000 fine, with a default sentence of five years’ imprisonment at Mile 2 Central Prison. The court ordered each convict to pay D150,000 immediately. The remaining D200,000 must be paid in three monthly installments of approximately D67,000, beginning on 30 October 2026 and ending on 30 December 2026.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the seized government vehicle to the Ministry of Finance. The prosecution will handle the return of the vehicle to the ministry.

Magistrate Darboe granted each convict bail in the sum of D200,000, subject to like conditions. Each convict must also provide one Gambian surety who must swear to an affidavit of means and show property equivalent to the required sum.