Gambian police have opened an investigation into the death of 19-year-old Dawda Ceesay from Manduar, who passed away Friday at Brikama District Hospital, more than 30 kilometers southwest of Banjul.
Preliminary reports suggest his death may be linked to kush, a highly dangerous synthetic drug that has spread across West Africa. His body has been transferred to the morgue for a possible post-mortem examination.
The Gambia Police Force has urged the public, especially young people, to stay away from kush and other harmful substances, warning of their severe health risks.
The alert comes amid a wider regional health emergency. According to a February report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) and the Clingendael Institute, kush — a mix of synthetic opioids and artificial cannabinoids — first emerged in Sierra Leone before spreading to Liberia, Guinea, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal.
