The Embassy of The Gambia in Turkey has issued a travel advisory to Gambian citizens following the arrest of a social media influencer in Turkey who also reportedly owns a business in the West Coast Region.
According to reports, the influencer was allegedly arrested in Istanbul in connection with suspected drug possession. However, details surrounding the circumstances of the arrest and the specific substances involved remain unclear.
In its advisory, the embassy said it has observed a significant increase over the past year in the number of Gambians intercepted at Istanbul Airport for attempting to transport controlled substances. Many of those individuals were reportedly deboarded and subsequently arrested.
The embassy urged Gambian travelers, particularly those who carry traditional herbs and roots, to familiarize themselves with the legal classification of such substances in their destination countries and transit airports.
Officials warned that failure to comply with these regulations could lead to serious legal consequences.
“Failure to heed this advice may result in significant and costly legal consequences, including heavy fines or long-term imprisonment,” the advisory stated.
The embassy did not disclose the identity of the influencer or the type of drugs allegedly involved in the arrest.