One Samba Sowe, a Senegalese, was recently convicted and sentenced by the Banjul Magistrates court, presided over by Principal Magistrate Edrissa Mbai.

Samba was found guilty of being in possession of prohibited drugs contrary to the laws of The Gambia. The accused was alleged to have been found in possession of 1kg, 460 grams of Cannabis Sative commonly known as Jamba, on January 2, 2009 at Essau Police checkpoint in the North Bank Region.

According to the facts as narrated by the prosecution led by Police Officer Vincent Gomez, the accused, who hailded from Kerr Mumar Sarr village in the Republic of Senegal, had travelled to Ginack village in the North Bank Region and spent 15 days working for some farmers and at the end of his 15 days stint, he was paid with two bundles of cannabis sativa.

The accused then headed for Senegal and upon his arrival at Esau  police checkpoint, the vehicle was intercepted by one NDEA official Alagie Jaiteh, who asked the accused to open his travelling bag. It was further disclosed that as the NDEA official bent down to open the bag of the accused, the accused jumped and started running, but was however caught and taken to Esau police station. He was charged with the offence.