The Kanifing Magistrates Court, presided over by Principal Magistrate I.S. Mbai, has convicted and sentenced Mr. Malick Ceesay to a fine of D80,000 for storing medicine in an unauthorised premise, in violation of Section 59(1)(e) of the Medicines and Related Products Act, 2014, and Mr. Ceesay pleaded guilty to the charge.
Chief Inspector A. Bojang narrated to the Court that on 24 June 2025, a joint inspection team comprising officers of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and other security services, while on a joint inspection exercise in the Kanifing Municipality, discovered that the accused was storing medicines in an unauthorised premise.
The medicines were seized, documented in the quarantine and seizure form of MCA, and the accused escorted to the Serrekunda Police Station. A statement was obtained, a case file opened then Mr. Ceesay was cautioned and charged. He voluntarily admitted to the offence during investigations.
During the plea in mitigation, the defence counsel M. Loum informed the Court that the convict was a first-time offender who had shown deep remorse. He appealed to the Court to temper justice with mercy, noting the convict’s difficult financial situation and his commitment to desist from such practices in the future.
After confirming from the Prosecution that Mr. Ceesay had no previous conviction record, Principal Magistrate Mbai sentenced Mr. Ceesay to pay a fine of D80,000 in two instalments. In default, he will serve one month imprisonment at Mile II Central Prisons.
The Medicines Control Agency reminds the public that the storage and sale of medicines and related products without proper authorisation is illegal and poses serious risks to public health. MCA remains committed to ensuring that all medicines and related products circulating in The Gambia are of quality, safe and efficacious.
The public is urged to report any suspicious medicine activities to the Agency’s Qcell toll-free number 1233 or email us at info@mca.gm.