By: Nicholas Bass
A Civil Aviation security officer, Yahya K. Jatta, on Monday opened his defence in the ongoing cocaine trafficking case involving five Gambian nationals accused of dealing in prohibited drugs at the Banjul International Airport.
The accused persons, Seedy Ceesay, Lamin Ceesay, Yahya K. Jatta, Modou Bojang, and Muhammed Jallow, are standing trial before Justice Ebrima Jaiteh of the High Court in Banjul. They are alleged to have been involved in the transportation of cocaine through the airport on or about June 29, 2024.
Testifying as the third defence witness (DW3), Jatta told the court that upon reporting to work at the airport on the day in question, his supervisor deployed him to carry out his normal duties.
He said that between 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., his boss informed him of the arrest of four Portuguese nationals allegedly involved in trafficking cocaine through a Barcelona Vault flight. The arrested individuals were identified as Vilmar Cabral Roel, Ana Patricia Dos Santos Furtados, Simara Nadiya Martins, and Miriam Maria Mendes.
According to Jatta, his supervisor instructed him to investigate the circumstances surrounding their arrest. However, while he was conducting his inquiries, he himself was arrested by officers of the Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG).
When questioned by defence counsel Lamin J. Darboe, Jatta claimed that after he wrote his statement, one of the narcotic officers tore it up. He further alleged that he was later compelled to sign a different statement prepared for him by investigators.
The witness also told the court that a station officer, identified only as Baldeh, threatened him to “say the truth” or face the consequences. Jatta said he was pressured to accept the allegations against him but refused to do so.
He added that he was later detained at the Counter Terrorism Intervention (CTI) center before being transferred to the DLEAG headquarters in Kanifing, where he was eventually granted bail under the condition that he provide two sureties.
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By: Nicholas Bass A Civil Aviation security officer, Yahya K. Jatta, on Monday opened his defence in the ongoing cocaine…
The post Civil Aviation Officer Testifies in Banjul Airport Cocaine Case appeared first on .
