June 11, (THEWILL) — The Akwa Ibom Police Command has dismantled a suspected criminal enclave in Itu Local Government Area, recovering large quantities of illicit drugs, suspected stolen property and arresting a man believed to be a key figure in a network of drug trafficking and property theft.
The operation, carried out under the Command’s ongoing “Operation Zero Black Spots” initiative, targeted a hideout in Ikot Ebom Itam following intelligence reports linking the location to drug trafficking, vandalism and the storage of stolen items.
Police spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, said operatives arrested one suspect, identified as Ofonime Etim, during the intelligence-led raid.
Items recovered from the premises included substances suspected to be Indian hemp, packets of rolling papers, axes, machetes, vandalised electrical wires, roofing sheets, aluminium windows, cartons of assorted provisions and beverages, cartons of sachet gin, electronic appliances and a submersible water pump.
According to the Command, a community leader later identified the recovered water pump as property stolen from the Ikot Ebom Itam Village Hall borehole facility.
Police said the suspect allegedly confessed to stealing the pump from the community facility during interrogation.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the premises allegedly operated as a major distribution point for illicit drugs and a storage facility for suspected stolen goods linked to criminal activities in the area.
The Command disclosed that further investigations are ongoing to identify owners of the recovered items, trace additional victims and apprehend other members of the criminal network.
Following the operation, the suspected drug den was demolished.
Residents of the community reportedly commended the police action, describing the suspect and his associates as long-standing threats to public safety and security.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Command, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, reaffirmed the Command’s determination to rid the state of drug traffickers, vandals, cultists and other criminal elements.
He warned that Akwa Ibom would remain “hostile territory for criminals” and pledged continued intelligence-driven operations to identify and dismantle criminal hideouts across the state.
The police said the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
