Several suspected bandits were on Saturday rounded up in an evening police swoop in Old Jeshwang, this paper can authoritatively report.

The police raid, which caught most of the suspected bandits off-guard in a drunken state in an incomplete building, was launched at 11pm local time.  

The Senior Police Officer-in-Charge-of Kanifing constabulary told The Point that the suspected bandits were arrested in a weekend joint operation launched by his men and a contingent of officers from the Gambia Immigration Department.

According to Commissioner Gibba, during the course of the operation, 11 nationals of Guinea-Bissau, seven Senegalese and four Gambians were apprehended and, when screened, 16 were charged with ‘rogue and vagabond’. 

The men were suspected of being notorious bandits who were in the habit of accosting and tormenting passers-by at the Independence Stadium area.

Commissioner Gibba stated, “The people of Kanifing area are happy at the capture of these bandits.”

He further told this paper that they [suspected bandits] had gathered in an unoccupied house that was built by the KMC for the community of Old Jeshwang to be used as stalls. He added that the police were baffled that a certain Gambian was receiving fees for rent from the suspected bandits.

The senior area police commissioner further revealed that a good number of the suspected bandits were so drunk that they could hardly speak.

Meanwhile, the 16 men are due to appear in court today.