The Police Command in Akwa Ibom says it has detained two suspected arms fabricators and drug producers at Idem Street, off Itu Road, Uyo.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Uyo on Monday.
John said the command recorded another significant operational breakthrough in its ongoing Operation Zero Black Spots, a strategic initiative aimed at dismantling criminal hideouts, illegal arms production centres, and drug networks across the state.
She explained that operatives of the command, acting on credible intelligence, stormed the suspected criminal facility located at Idem Street, off Itu Road, Uyo, on Sunday, at 9:00 pm, and carried out the operation.
According to her, the operations followed intelligence reports that illicit chin-chin snacks laced with Indian hemp were being produced and distributed from the location.
Upon raiding the premises, Police operatives discovered that the facility was not only being used for the production of narcotic-laced food items but also functioned as a clandestine arms and ammunition fabrication workshop,” John said.
John added that during a thorough search of the premises, exhibits included eight refilled cartridges, six empty expended cartridges, one bag of gunpowder, refilling pellets, a pack of striking pins.
Other exhibits, she said, include one rifle butt, filing, cutting and drilling machines used for weapon fabrication, filing and cutting stones, assorted sets of saws, two machetes, and a substance suspected to be cannabis sativa.
Packets of chin-chin suspected to be laced with cannabis sativa, two pairs of black military boots, belts and jacket, as well as one laptop, three live turtles suspected to be used for charms and other incriminating items were also recovered, she said.
John also said that preliminary investigation revealed that the principal suspect, name withheld, a graduate of Animal Science from the University of Uyo, allegedly operates the illegal facility.
She further said that one of the suspects had confessed to producing narcotic-laced chin-chin and engaging in the illegal fabrication and modification of firearms, including cutting long guns into shorter and concealable weapons.
The Police spokesman said the suspects were currently in police custody, while discreet investigation were ongoing to apprehend other members of the criminal network mentioned during interrogation.
John quoted the Commissioner of Police, CP, Baba Azare, as reaffirming the command’s unwavering resolve to identify, dismantle and prosecute individuals involved in illegal arms fabrication, drug distribution and other criminal activities that threaten public safety.
The commissioner also warned that any individual or group involved in criminal enterprises within the state should immediately desist or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.
