TheCable

The Rivers state police command says it has intercepted 300 parcels of cannabis sativa, during an operation in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

Speaking with journalists on Friday, Nwonyi Emeka, the Rivers commissioner of police, said operatives attached to the command’s C4i intelligent unit, intercepted a bus loaded with the banned product after receiving credible information from an informant.

“On October 28, operatives working with credible information, trailed a white coloured Volkswagen bus with registration number MUS 910 YA,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“Upon sighting the approaching police operatives, the driver took to his heels but was arrested after a hot chase.

“Shortly after the suspect was apprehended, operatives searched the vehicle and recovered 300 parcels whose content was suspected to be Indian hemp.”

Emeka said the suspect is currently being interrogated to reveal the source and destination of the illegal product.

In a related development, the police commissioner said police operatives, acting on information, busted a notorious gang of armed robbers responsible for several robberies in the state.

“On November 1 at about 4pm, operatives of the command neutralised a notorious armed robber after they received credible intelligence about the suspicious and clandestine movement of his gang,” he said.

“The gang leader and his gang checked into a hotel located at Chokocho along Etche Road in Etche local government area of the state.

“Operatives of octopus strike force (upon sighting the gang) immediately swung into action and engaged them in a gun duel and eventually gunned down the gang leader.”

He said the deceased suspect, who had been at large and in the command’s watchlist, had earlier attacked a victim around Rumuodara community inside the city.

“The suspect shot the victim in his left leg which later resulted in the amputation of the victim’s leg as well as snatched the victim’s car valued at N13 million, among others,” Emeka said.

“Items recovered from the gang leader are one AK47 rifle, two magazines, 21 rounds of ammunition of 7.62mm and a police handcuff and the key.”

The police commissioner said two male suspects who received the stolen vehicle from the deceased gang leader had been arrested and were providing police interrogators with useful information.

Emeka said the police command is already on the trail of other fleeing members of the gang, and assured that the suspects would soon be arrested and prosecuted for their alleged crimes.