Police recover gun, drugs, arrest suspected peddler in Delta

Police recover gun, drugs, arrest suspected peddler in Delta The Delta State Police Command has recovered a locally made gun, seized quantities of suspected illicit drugs, and arrested a 40-year-old suspected drug peddler in separate operations in Effurun and Agbor. The command's spokesman, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement, saying the firearm was recovered after two masked men allegedly broke into the residence of a 48-year-old man in the Charlisco area of NPA Express Road, Effurun. According to him, the incident occurred around 5:30 am on September 4, when the suspects, armed with a locally made shotgun, broke into the victim's residence. Edafe said the victim confronted and wrestled with the suspect carrying the firearm, during which the gun broke. He said the second suspect subsequently struck the victim on the forehead before both suspects fled, abandoning the firearm. The spokesman said the incident was reported at the Ekpan Police Division at about 6:14 am, after which the Divisional Police Officer immediately deployed operatives to the scene. He said the officers recovered the broken locally made firearm, while the victim was taken to a hospital for treatment. Edafe added that police launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects. In a separate operation in Agbor, operatives of the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit (SAKU), Ubulu-Uku, arrested Joy Anthony, 40, a suspected drug peddler. The suspect was arrested around 5 am on September 6 following credible intelligence, the statement said. Edafe said a search warrant executed at Anthony's residence in Agbor-Obi led to the recovery of quantities of Swinol, Tramadol, Codeine, Canadian Loud, and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp. He said the suspect and the recovered exhibits are in police custody while the investigation continues. The Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, CP Samuel Erale, commended the 48-year-old victim for his courage in confronting the armed suspects. He assured him that the police would track down and arrest the fleeing suspects. The CP also urged residents to provide useful information to help police tackle crime.