Five men, including two Malians, are currently in police custody for burglary at Sonatex Enterprise, located on the Ecowas Avenue in Banjul.

The men were arrested in the course of the burglary by personnel of the Gambia Police Force at 03:00 am on Saturday. The suspects were identified as Bangally Conté, a Malian citizen, and Alassan Jobe, a taxi driver. Three night watchmen identified as Lassana Krubally, Tunkary Sanneh and Modou Kujabi, were also arrested by the police. The mastermind of the burglary, Ousman Jarra, also a Malian, is said to be on the run, according to our sources.

Contacted on the incident, ASP Sulayman Secka, the public relations officer of the Gambia Police Force, told the Daily Observer that the watchmen connived with the burglars to carry out the burglary.

ASP Secka added that the leader of the group, Ousman Jarra, used to bring Malian customers to buy clothes at Sonatex, adding that the police cannot determine his currrent whereabouts. He explained that on June 27, the two Malians arranged for a taxi to carry the stolen items.

"The taxi with number BJL 8205C, was parked at a nearby store, where the three night watchmen were waiting to load the stolen materials from Sonatex shop," he said. But, he added, they ran out of luck, as the police caught them on the spot.

The police spokeperson said 81 bales of different pieces of clothes and two packets of embroidered pieces, valued at at least D125,000, were found in their possession.

According to the police PRO, the men will soon be arraigned before a competent court of law, as they have already been charged with burglary and theft.

The police spokesperson thanked the neighbours for the timely reporting of the matter to the police.