The Abia State Police Command has arrested 31 suspects and destroyed several criminal camps during coordinated anti-drug raids across notorious hideouts in Umuahia and surrounding communities.
The operation led to the arrest of 30 men and one woman, while officers also recovered substances suspected to be illicit drugs from the raided locations.
The command disclosed the development in a statement issued on Monday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa. The suspects are between 22 and 46 years old.
According to Chinaka, the raids were carried out on the directive of the Commissioner of Police as part of intensified efforts to dismantle criminal enclaves across the state.
Acting on credible intelligence, operatives from the Central Police Station, Umuahia, in collaboration with local vigilantes, stormed criminal hideouts around the Mission Hill/New Road area, popularly known as “Down Below.”
Police described the area as a valley-like location surrounded by thick bush, making it a long-standing haven for criminal activities.
Another notorious hideout at Amuzukwu, allegedly used for drug bunkering and as a refuge for suspected criminals, was also raided.
During the operation, police arrested 31 suspects, recovered suspected illicit drugs and dismantled the two major black spots.
Following fresh intelligence, officers returned to the locations on July 1, 2026, where they discovered makeshift camps allegedly used by criminal syndicates.
The police said about eight tents built with sticks and tarpaulins were destroyed and set ablaze to disrupt the activities of the suspected criminals.
All the suspects have been charged to court and remanded in a correctional facility, according to the police.
Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa reiterated the command’s commitment to sustaining operations against criminal networks and ensuring the safety of residents across Abia State.
He also urged members of the public to continue providing credible information that would assist security agencies in tackling crime.
The police said the operation reflects its determination to dismantle drug-related criminal networks and ensure that no criminal hideout remains beyond the reach of law enforcement.
