The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has renewed fight against dealers of Indian hemp and other illicit substances across the state.
In an intelligence – driven campaigns, the Command had recently arrested several suspects and recovering large quantities of suspected prohibited drugs during coordinated raids of criminal flashpoints.
The statewide operation, which was carried out simultaneously in other locations, followed weeks of actionable intelligence on drug distribution networks operating within communities.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Timfon John confirmed this in a statement issued to newsmen in Uyo on Tuesday saying that, several suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded.
The Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare also issued a “final warning” to all drug traffickers and peddlers, directing them to immediately desist from the illegal trade or leave Akwa Ibom State.
He said, the command would no longer tolerate activities that endanger the lives of young people and fuel criminality noting that, the widespread circulation of illicit drugs remains a major trigger for cultism, armed robbery, violent crimes and moral decay in communities.
“We will not stand and watch, while our youths are being destroyed by addiction and criminal influence. Akwa Ibom is no longer a safe operating ground for drug barons and peddlers.
“Anyone who ignores this warning will face relentless enforcement and the full weight of the law,” Azare declared stating that, surveillance systems have been reinforced, intelligence gathering strengthened and inter-agency collaborations enhanced to dismantle drug networks across the state.
He called on parents, traditional rulers, youth leaders and community stakeholders to support the police with credible information, stressing that the fight against drug abuse requires collective action.
The CP reiterated his commitment to maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property, and restoring moral integrity across the state, assuring residents that the ongoing crackdown will be sustained until the menace of illicit drugs is decisively curtailed.
