The Gambia’s Revenue Authority (GRA) has issued a statement rubbishing newspaper reports that footballer Musa Barrow was harassed by its officers stationed at the Banjul International Airport.
It said the incident was caused by refusal of the footballer, 26, to pay custom duties on goods he was bringing into the country. It warned travellers that fame and status would not exempt their goods from inspection and payment of customs duties.
We hereby reproduce the full statement.
The Gambia Revenue Authority (GRA) issues this statement to clarify facts regarding the recent incident involving Gambian international footballer, Musa Barrow, who arrived at Banjul International Airport on 11th July 2025 at 19:00 hrs via Turkish Airline.
As per standard procedure, all arriving passengers undergo mandatory luggage scanning managed by a joint security taskforce comprising the Gambia International Airlines (GIA), Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (DLEA), State Intelligence Services (SIS), Food Safety Unit and public health officials. During this process, all five of Mr Barrow’s suitcases were flagged by the image analyst for Customs related concerns.
Mr Barrow did not engage with GRA officials after being informed of the flagged luggage. Instead, his brother and some guys brought the suitcases to Mrs. Anna Jarju, GRA Shift Supervisor, who was not present during the scanning. Despite requests from officers, Mr. Barrow refused to come forward for inspection. His brother opened the luggage on his behalf, but failed to present invoices or supporting documentation for the contents.
In the absence of proper valuation documents, customs duties were estimated at D15,000 (D2,500 per suitcase) and later reduced to D10,000. Mr. Barrow, through his brother, claimed he could not pay the amount. Following further discussion, GRA officials held a closed-door meeting with Mr. Barrow and conditionally allowed him to leave without payment with a stern warning to ensure further compliance.
GRA wishes to emphasise that no one is above the law. All individuals, regardless of status or fame, are subject to the same customs procedures. The authority commends the professionalism and integrity of its officers, especially Mrs. Anna Jarju, who conducted herself with discipline and in line with standard procedures. CCTV footage, including audio, confirms this.
The GRA also wishes to make it clear that it does not take matters of staff integrity lightly. A dedicated Internal Affairs Unit has been established to investigate and enforce disciplinary actions against any staff member found wanting. The Authority stands firm in its zero-tolerance policy on misconduct. GRA remains committed to transparency, professionalism, and the fair enforcement of national laws. It urges all travellers to cooperate with custom officials to help protect the Gambia’s economy and national security.
