Are drug traffickers and influential individuals above the law in The Gambia?

Fatima Sillah was a guest on AG Radio’s Sunday “Citizen Empowerment” programme, discussing one of the most debated issues in The Gambia today: are the rich and well-connected treated differently by the justice system? Two notorious drug traffickers with links to transnational cartels are Banta Kieta and Paulo Djabi. These two wealthy drug dealers are well known to the Gambian authorities, yet according to many Gambians, they have always evaded justice. Fatima shares her views on the public's fear of the seeming immunity for some of the country's most wanted suspected drug lords, like Banta, Paulo and other powerful players like Seedy Njie. Banta Keita was convicted in 2025 of aggravated drug trafficking in connection with a 2021 shipment of nearly three tonnes of cocaine at the Banjul port but acquitted on nine other charges, including money laundering and conspiracy. In sentencing, Justice Mboob acknowledged the severity of drug trafficking, calling it a crime that “destroys lives", but imposed a fine of 30 million dalasis (approximately $600,000) and, in default of payment, 25 years of imprisonment with hard labour. Paulo Djabi, along with his wife Nadine Ismael de Gouveira Pereira and Mamadu Neto Djabi, is facing 21 criminal charges in connection with illegal drug activities and money laundering. In his testimony as the First Prosecution Witness (PW1), Lamin Y.A. Sanneh, DLEAG officer, told the court that investigators seized 12 vehicles, 3 motorcycles, a Jet Ski, drugs, needles and syringes, all allegedly belonging to Paulo Djabi. When the case was called on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Senior State Counsel Lamin Jarjou sought to tender the drugs as evidence. However, the defence counsel objected, halting the motion. According to Fatima, without support from the Gambian authorities, drug lords like Banta and Paulo will not be able to operate using Gambian seaports as a gateway for their drug empire. Critics say the perception that the rich and politically connected are treated differently undermines public confidence in the rule of law and reduces public trust in state institutions. Justice, they say, must be administered fairly and impartially, irrespective of the wealth, social standing or political clout of the accused.