Gambia anti-drug chief released
2010-03-11 17:08
Banjul - The chief of Gambia's national drug agency was released from prison without charge, after being arrested alongside 10 of the country's top brass in a drug trafficking swoop, his brother said on Thursday.
"I can confirm to you that Ebrima Bun Sanneh is released and currently at home with his family," the brother told AFP, asking not to be named.
"He was released and asked to stay at home while investigations continue."
A senior police source also confirmed Sanneh's release after four days in detention.
"Sanneh was released last night without any charge," the source said.
The drug agency chief was arrested alongside the police and navy chiefs, the former fisheries minister and the army's number two in a wave of arrests since last week, believed to be related to drug trafficking.
A military source told AFP that "those arrested were asked to account for a huge amounts of drugs that went missing following its seizure from a gang of criminals."
President Yahya Jammeh on Tuesday warned officials holding high positions against getting involved in drug trafficking.
"I have zero tolerance for criminals. I have double-zero tolerance for drugs," Jammeh told state radio.
West Africa has become an important trafficking point for cartels transporting drugs, especially cocaine, into Europe in recent years.