The ‘Operation Bulldozer’team set up by President Jammeh to wipe out criminality in the countryheaded by its operations commander, deputy commissioner of police Landing Bojang, has arrested seven people in Basse Manneh Kunda,Basse Mansajang Kunda and Madinakoto in Wuli West District of the Upper River Region.

Those arrested are said to be ‘big drug dealers’ residing in the area. Thearrests were made on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday respectively during a routine patrol by the team in the seven districts of the region. Several bundles of cannabis and a bag of cannabis sativa were also seized in the said villages.

Confirming the arrest to the Daily Observer in Basse,deputy commissioner Bojang disclosed that in Basse Manneh Kunda, the alkalo’s son was arrested for being in possession of cannabis sativa. He said Manneh Kunda village is a place that was known to be a ‘no-go-area’ for the police, but they managed to raid them. He disclosed that some people who helped the alkalo’s son to resist arrest were also arrested.

He further disclosed that a disabled man with a wheelchair in Basse Mansanjang believed to be a big drug dealer in the region, was also arrested by the police team, after he was found with cannabis. He said the suspect is helping them in their operations to arrest other suspected drug dealers in the region.

His words: “No matter what you are, who you are, if the bulldozer comes and realise that you are harbouring criminal [s] or drug dealers in your compound, you will face the full force of the law. If you see many crimes are being committed in the country, it is the selfishness of some Gambians who term themselves as human rights activists.

Most of the people that we have arrested during our operation are Gambians. Therefore, we will continue in fighting crime, drug peddling, and armed robbery in the country and it should be the business of everybody to partner in cleaning the nation by ensuring that crimes are eradicated in the country. Bulldozer is not looking into any personality or position, or anything but what we are after is to make the country to remain a crime-free nation.”

Bojang also advised compound heads to desist from harbouring criminals, drug peddlers among other criminals, stressing that the president wants to ensure that the country remains peaceful. “Therefore, it should be a collective approach in eradicating all criminal gangs in the country. We are not harassing anyone but rather anybody we suspect of criminal activities will be arrested,” he added.