Gun Importation Saga: Police Investigation Clears Jawara of GACH Security Company

The Gambia Police Force said the prosecution of Abubakary Jawara, the proprietor of GACH Security Company on a charge of importation of non-hunting guns cannot be substantiated based on the findings of a two-month investigation.

Cache of suspicious guns imported by businessman Jawara and his security firm were intercepted at the Banjul seaport on 9th January, 2019. The cache included 13 suspicious weapons out of a total of 1,263 pieces of firearms packed in 252 boxes. The owner claimed they were meant for hunting.

The importation of guns and ammunitions is regulated by the Arms and Ammunitions Act.

The discovery sparked public concern and suspicion, prompting the police to open an investigation to determine if the weapons were hunting guns or conventional weapons of warfare beyond the limits of Mr. Jawara’s legally acquired hunting guns license.

“During the thorough investigation lasting almost two months, specimens of all the weapons were taken to a ballistics expert at the Gambia Armed Forces who upon comprehensive examination, concluded that all weapons are classified as hunting guns which can only use cartridges and not conventional ammunitions,” the police said in a statement Monday.

In view of the above circumstances, the statement said the prosecution of Mr. Jawara on a charge of importation of non-hunting guns “cannot be substantiated based on the findings of the ballistics expert and the legal advice that all guns submitted as specimen fall within the categories of hunting guns.”