The Brikama Magistrates Court, presided over by Her Worship I. O. Njie, has convicted and sentenced nine men to a fine of D5,000 each for storing medicines in an unauthorized premise, in violation of Section 59(1)(e) of the Medicines and Related Products Act, 2014.
The convicts, Mr. Alasana Jallow, Mr. Ousman Manneh, Mr. Baboucarr Secka, Mr. Saikou Drammeh, Mr. Saikou Barry, Mr. Abdoulie Bah, Mr. Sainey Ceesay, Mr. Ismaila Jammeh, and Mr. Nfamara Sabally, amongst these, included a Driver, a Wheelbarrow porter, and an Imam. All nine pleaded guilty to the charge.
JSP B. Sawaneh, representing the Inspector General of Police (IGP), informed the Court that during a routine inspection exercise at the Brikama Market in the West Coast Region on 26 June 2025, a joint inspection team comprising officers of the Medicines Control Agency (MCA) and other security services apprehended the convicts for storing medicines without authorization.
The medicines were seized and documented using the MCA’s quarantine and seizure form. The accused were then escorted to the Brikama Madina Police Station, where their statements were obtained, a case file was opened and they all voluntarily admitted to the offence.
During plea in mitigation, the convicts pleaded for leniency, citing their responsibilities as breadwinners of their families. They also expressed remorse and promised to refrain from such activities in the future.
In her sentencing, Magistrate Njie noted that the convicts were first-time offenders who did not waste the Court’s time and she therefore imposed a fine of D5,000 on each of them, with a default sentence of six months’ imprisonment at Mile 2 Central Prisons.
The public is urged to report any suspicious or unlawful medicine-related activities to the Agency through Qcell toll-free number 1233 or email info@mca.gm.
Together, we can ensure a healthier Gambia.