Two Senegalese boat captains, Ousainou Mbaye and Youssoupha Darbo, were yesterday charged under the prohibition of trafficking in persons Act before the Banjul Magistrates Court.

According to the particulars of offence, the duo on or about 3rd April 2008 in the city of Banjul in the Republic of The Gambia, unlawfully engaged in trafficking of persons by the names of Mustafa Minteh, Muhammad Jarju and Momodou Malado Bah and received the sum of D15,000.00 from each of them for the purpose of taking them to Europe by boat.

When the charge sheet was read to them in the language they claimed to understand, they pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them.

Meanwhile the duo were granted court bail in the sum of D20,000.00 with Gambian sureties who had to deposit national identity documents in court.