Nineteen Sierra Leonean nationals have been convicted and sentenced in The Gambia after admitting they unlawfully occupied a private compound in Brusubi, West Coast Region.
The Lower West Coast Region Task Force arrested the group on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, following a tip-off from a member of the public about suspicious activities at an uncompleted building.
Officers found the 19 individuals inside the premises. Some reportedly attempted to flee when law enforcement arrived but were quickly apprehended. They were initially held at Brusubi Police Station for screening and investigation.
Appearing before Senior Magistrate Fofana at the Brusubi Magistrates’ Court, all 19 pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and forcible detainer. Each received two years’ imprisonment for forcible detainer and one year for criminal trespass.
Gambian authorities confirmed that the convicts will be deported to Sierra Leone after completing their prison terms.
The Gambia Police Force reiterated its commitment to protecting property rights and upholding the law across the country.
Initial reports described the suspects as a group of young men who had been frequently visiting the unfinished structure under suspicious circumstances. Their identities have not been publicly disclosed.
The case comes against the backdrop of a sizable Sierra Leonean community living and working in The Gambia under ECOWAS free-movement protocols.
In recent years, the Sierra Leone High Commission in Banjul has repeatedly urged nationals abroad to respect host-country laws and avoid involvement in illicit activities, warning that such actions damage the country’s reputation. In May 2026, the High Commission itself helped expose a trafficking network linked to the QNET scheme that had lured dozens of young Sierra Leoneans to The Gambia with false promises of overseas visas.
The rapid move from arrest on 28 July to conviction by 30 July underscores Gambian authorities’ firm stance on property-related offences. Once released and deported, the 19 will return to Sierra Leone.
