The Delta State Police Command has intensified its crackdown on criminal activities across the state with the arrest of 81 suspects during an intelligence-led operation targeting identified criminal black spots within the Asaba metropolis.
The operation, conducted on Friday, July 24, 2026, was part of the Command’s ongoing strategy to dismantle criminal networks, curb illicit activities, and strengthen public safety across Delta State.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the operation was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Department of Operations, alongside tactical teams of the Command, following credible intelligence on criminal activities in the affected locations.
The statement disclosed that a total of 81 suspects, comprising 50 males and 31 females, were arrested during the raid.
The suspects were apprehended for offences bordering on the sale and possession of suspected illicit drugs, as well as operating an illegal checkpoint at the Asaba-Onitsha Head Bridge.
Police operatives also recovered large quantities of Tramadol and substances suspected to be Indian hemp during the operation.
In a related development, the Command impounded five vehicles for various offences, including operating an unauthorised taxi park at Pinnacle Junction along Okpanam Road and allegedly facilitating the sale and distribution of suspected illicit drugs within the area.
The Police said all suspects, exhibits, and impounded vehicles remain in custody as investigations continue, with assurances that those found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
Reacting to the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to intelligence-led policing and proactive crime prevention.
He warned individuals engaged in criminal activities to abandon such acts or be prepared to face the full weight of the law, stressing that the Command remains resolute in its determination to rid the state of criminal elements and sustain peace and security.
