From Joseph Obukata, Warri
The police in Delta state, has arrested a 62-year-old driver, David Ikama, of 28 old Ekete road Ovwian–Aladja for conveying illicit drugs, including codeine syrup, tramadol, Swinol, and Rohypnol in a bus conveying passengers from Onitsha to Warri.
The vehicle, a white color Toyota Hiace Bus with Reg no. FST 210 XD was intercepted by operatives of Dragon Patrol teams 25 and 31 while on stop and search duty along Kwale/Ogwashi-Uku Express road on Monday May 22, 2024.
Ikama, according to the police had the items stashed in a bag and was arrested after his vehicle was subjected to a search during which some bags loaded with suspected illicit drugs were found.
Among the substance found in the bags include, one thousand, two hundred and sixty-six bottles of codeine syrup, six hundred and four tablets of tramadol, fifty-four tablets of Swinol, Ninety sachets of Rohypnol.
This is coming as the police also arrested one Ebube Osakwe, a suspected kidnapper, who confessed to participating in a kidnapping in Egu-Agbor and collecting a ransom of N2.5 million.
State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe who confirmed this, said that acting on strategic intelligence, the command deployed operatives led by the Area Commander Asaba ACP Sunday Oladipo, to the hideout and arrested the suspect, age 32 yrs.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect and his gang members (at large) carried out a kidnapping in Egu-Agbor and took their victims to Akoko Edo area in Edo state where they usually collect ransom before releasing their victims.
“Further investigation also revealed that in their last operation, they collected the sum of two million, five hundred thousand (#2.500,000) from their victims.
“Efforts to arrest the other members of the gang are ongoing, he added.
Similarly, the police in a sting operation, arrested one Ozuluonye Okonkwo and Anukwu Joseph, members of an armed robbery gang responsible for house-to-house robberies in Asaba.
The gang leader, who supplies guns to the gang, is currently at large.
Edafe who disclosed this, said, “Sequel to reports of armed robbery operations in the metropolis, the commissioner of Police Delta State CP Abaniwonda Olufemi strategically deployed all Tactical Teams to various nipping points in Asaba, Okpanam, Ibusa and other parts of the metro.
“On 20/05/2024 at about 02:00 hrs, the Area Command Asaba received complaints that some suspected armed robbers who robbed three houses the night before were sighted around Coka in Asaba, the Area command swiftly deployed operatives who went all out for the suspects and arrested one Ozuluonye Okonkwo age 21 yrs.
“Upon interrogation of the suspect, he stated that he and his gang were responsible for the robbery operation around Coka and its environs. His confession led to the arrest of one Anukwu Joseph, while the gang leader who is also the gun supplier is presently at large. suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing”, Edafe added.