Financial Inclusion and Crime Prevention in Gambia: A Growing Concern

The Gambia has made significant strides in combating crime, but challenges persist. Financial inclusion efforts are crucial in preventing illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing.

Key Statistics:

The majority of cannabis seizures occur at the borders with Senegal and Guinea Bissau.
Efforts to combat the trade have been hindered by corruption and inadequate law enforcement capacity.

The Gambia is a major transit hub for cannabis, making it a crucial point in the international drug trade. However, combating this issue has been challenging due to corruption within the police force and inadequate resources.

Corruption Remains a Major Concern

Police officers are perceived as the most corrupt officials in The Gambia.
State authorities remain involved in illicit activities with impunity.

Corruption remains a significant challenge in The Gambia, with police officers being seen as among the most corrupt. Despite efforts to address corruption, state authorities continue to engage in illicit activities without consequence.

Financial Intelligence Unit Established

The Gambia has taken steps to strengthen its financial regulatory environment by establishing a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and cooperating with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). However, enforcement capacity remains a concern.

Establishing a Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is a significant step in combating illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorist financing. The FIU has strengthened cooperation with global agencies like the FATF to enhance its effectiveness.

International Cooperation Key to Success

Only an anti-drug memorandum of understanding exists between The Gambia and Senegal.
Strengthening partnerships with global agencies is crucial in building capacity against organized crime.

International cooperation plays a vital role in combating organized crime. However, the limited number of agreements, such as the anti-drug memorandum of understanding with Senegal, highlights the need for further collaboration with global agencies.

A lack of formal victim or witness protection programs exists.
Training sessions have been held to improve law enforcement’s capacity to respond to drug trafficking and other forms of transnational organized crime.
Press freedom has seen a critical juncture, with increased space for civil-society organizations including media participation in the country’s political life.

Civil society plays a vital role in promoting accountability and transparency. However, The Gambia still lacks formal victim or witness protection programs, which are essential in ensuring that those affected by organized crime can seek justice without fear of retaliation.

Economic Regulatory Environment Needs Improvement

The Gambia’s economic regulatory environment is in need of substantial improvements. Efforts to deepen democratic governance and strengthen anti-corruption measures are crucial to achieving a sustainable economic regulatory capacity.

Improving the economic regulatory environment requires strengthening institutions, promoting transparency, and combating corruption. This will help create a more stable and prosperous economy for The Gambia.

Judicial Units Needed to Combat Organized Crime

No judicial units have been set up specifically to combat organized crime.
Efforts to professionalize the judiciary remain ongoing.

Combating organized crime requires specialized judicial units with expertise in handling complex cases. However, The Gambia still lacks these units, which highlights the need for further investment in its judicial system.

Border Control System Development

The Gambia is working with international partners to build a national border control system, with frequent patrols by the Immigration Border Patrol Unit assisted by sister services. The country’s small size and shorter land and sea boundaries make it easier to control borders.

Developing a robust border control system is crucial in preventing the smuggling of goods and people across borders. However, The Gambia still faces challenges in effectively controlling its borders due to limited resources and capacity.