ASABA/Nigeria: The Delta State Police Command has recorded major breakthroughs in its ongoing crackdown on criminal elements and illicit drug activities, with the arrest of 272 suspects during coordinated raids across Warri and Ughelli.
The operations were disclosed in a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Edafe Bright, who said the raids were part of sustained intelligence-driven efforts to rid the state of crime and dismantle criminal networks.
According to the statement, on March 25, 2026, operatives led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, and drawn from the Buffalo Operational Team alongside other tactical units, stormed identified black spots in Warri South, Uvwie, and Okpe Local Government Areas.
The coordinated operation, based on credible intelligence from the State Intelligence Department (SID), targeted criminal hideouts in Ugbrumu and Jeddo communities, leading to the arrest of 59 suspects, comprising 51 males and eight females.
Police revealed that many of the locations raided, including a notorious bush bar and several hotels, were being used as brothels and safe havens for criminal activities, while some of the suspects arrested were alleged cultists already on the Command’s watch list.
Items recovered during the operation included substances suspected to be codeine, crack cocaine, “loud,” “colos,” and weeds believed to be Indian hemp.
In a related operation carried out on March 26, 2026, DCP Adejobi led another team comprising operatives from the Crack Squad, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), and Buffalo Squad on an aggressive raid of criminal locations in Ughelli town.
The operation, also driven by actionable intelligence, focused on notorious hotspots for drug-related activities, including Epini Hotel along the Ughelli–Patani Expressway, Torsac Hotel, and Primaria Guest House.
The raid led to the arrest of 213 suspects, with police again uncovering that many of the premises were being used as brothels and operational bases for criminal elements.
Recovered exhibits from the Ughelli operation included large quantities of substances suspected to be Canadian loud, CSC syrup, tramadol, swinol, and Indian hemp.
The Command stated that all suspects and exhibits have been handed over to the Divisional Police Officer in charge of ‘A’ Division, Ughelli, as well as officers of the Rapid Response Squad and the CP Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT) for detailed investigation, profiling, and possible prosecution.
The Commissioner of Police assured residents that all suspects found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law, reaffirming the Command’s resolve to sustain ongoing operations across the state, including Sapele and surrounding areas.
He further called on members of the public to continue supporting the Police with timely and credible information, noting that community cooperation remains vital in the fight against crime and in ensuring the safety and security of all residents.
