(Drugs. Photo Credit: Leadership News)
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a suspected drug baron, Ofonime Etim, in Ikot Ebom Itam, Itu Local Government Area, following the dismantling of a notorious drug den as part of a renewed offensive against criminal elements in the state.
A statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, in Uyo on Wednesday, said operatives acted on intelligence to conduct a coordinated operation targeting a criminal enclave suspected of harbouring drug traffickers, receivers of stolen property, vandals, and other criminal elements terrorising residents of the area.
A thorough search of the premises led to the recovery of substantial quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, numerous packets of rolling papers, axes, machetes, vandalised electrical wires, bundles of roofing sheets, aluminium windows, cartons of assorted provisions and beverages, cartons of sachet illicit gin, a submersible water pump, and several electronic and electrical appliances.
The village council chairman identified the recovered items, noting that the submersible water pump belonged to the Ikot Ebom Itam Village Hall borehole facility, which had earlier been reported stolen.
The suspect allegedly confessed to stealing the pump from the community facility.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the premises once served as a major distribution point for illicit drugs and a storage facility for suspected stolen goods.
The statement said the suspect would be charged in court upon the conclusion of investigations.