The Secretary of State for Interior, Mr. Ousman Sonko, has stated that money laundering is one of the most notorious economic crimes in any state. He said that money laundering is negative for economic growth and could affect a nation both domestically and internationally.

Speaking at the inter-government Action Group Against Money Laundering and terrorist finance in West Africa (GIABA) plenary session and 7th technical commission held at the Kairaba Beach Hotel on Monday, June 11, Secy Sonko said that money laundering is luxurious to criminals but very negative to the economy of any nation.

“The negativity of money laundering in national economies cannot be overemphasised and therefore all the ten member states of GIABA should come together to fight money laundering and terrorist financing in our sub-region,” he said, adding that the republic of The Gambia has enacted anti money laundering inter border crime in 2002. He stated that money laundering is an illegitimate crackdown on market economy and that therefore the Gambia Government would continue to combat the bad economic practice. “In collaboration with GIABA we will stand strong to fight money laundering and terrorist financing within the sub-region,” he concluded.

In his statement Dr Abdouliah Shehu, the Director-General of GIABA, thanked the Gambia government and the people of The Gambia for hosting this year’s GIABA plenary session and urged West African states to turn up in large numbers and enact anti money laundering.

“We hope that other states that do not sign the anti money laundering to do in a short time,” he said.