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# 									Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs: The Gambia							

Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) works to keep Americans safe at home by countering international crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. INL helps countries deliver justice and fairness by strengthening their police, courts, and corrections systems. These efforts reduce the amount of crime and illegal drugs reaching U.S. shores. 

**Challenges**: Democratic elections in December 2016 in the Republic of The Gambia (“The Gambia”) ushered in a new government as Adama Barrow defeated former President YahyaJammeh who had held power for 22 years.Former President Jammeh’s rule was inundated with rampant corruption and human rights violations, which resulted in22 years of underinvestment in The Gambia’s rule of law system.The current government provides a new opportunity to address corruption and strengthen rule of law in The Gambia.  

Capacity building is critical to ensure that The Gambia achieves a successful transition to a democratic government, which is accountable to and respects the rights and the will of the Gambian people.The Government of The Gambia struggles with significant constraints in investigating and prosecuting crimes due to poor case management, understaffing of the rule of law sector to include investigators, prosecutors, and the judiciary, and overtasking of the courts.The lack of a computerized case management system, lack of digitization of official/government documents to include laws and regulations, and outdated legal requirements and procedures are challenges for moving cases through the justice system and ensuring a strong justice sector.  

**Goal****s**:INL’s work with The Gambia aims to strengthen criminal justice institutions as the country continues its transition to democracy; bolster the justice sector by buildingthe Ministry of Justice’s (MOJ’s)capacity to prosecute criminal cases involving corruption, kleptocracy, and financial crimes; and fight transnational organized crime by enhancing the Government of The Gambia’s abilities to organize, prioritize, and conduct multiple comprehensive, sophisticated financial investigations. 

**Accomplishments**: 
        - I NL has partnered with multi ple U.S. government agencies to combat kleptocracy in The Gambia, including  with  the  Department of Justice ’s  Office of  Overseas  Prosecutorial Development Assistance  and Training  ( OPDAT )  to build prosecutorial capacity of the state counsel ,  and  with  the Department of Homeland Security  to build investigative capacity on  kleptocracy  and financial crimes  by enhancing  the Government of The Gambia’s abilities to organize, prioritize, and conduct multiple comprehensive, sophisticated financial investigations . 
        - With INL  assistance,  I mmigration and  C ustoms  E nforcement (ICE)  and OPDAT delivered a 5-day, comprehensive financial training to key personnel within Gambian law enforcement and other  related  sectors ,  which  provided specialized training, technical assistance, and best practices to foreign law enforcement, border control personnel, and regulatory agencies, as well as judicial authorities  on  cross-border financial crimes.    
        - I n September  2019, INL signed a  L etter of Agreement  on criminal justice reform with  T he  Gambia’s  MOJ  to strengthen the justice sector and modestly expand rule of law projects.

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The Gambia

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