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Police arrest five suspected drug dealers during raid on criminal hideout in Mbak Itam, Ikot Mbang.
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Substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Tramadol, Loud and Ice recovered alongside ₦42,000 cash.
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Command says Operation Zero Black Spot will continue to target criminal hideouts across Akwa Ibom.
The Akwa Ibom State Police Command says it has intensified its crackdown on criminal hideouts with the arrest of five suspected illicit drug dealers and the recovery of substances suspected to be controlled drugs during a targeted raid in Mbak Itam, Ikot Mbang.
The operation, carried out on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, followed credible intelligence received by operatives of the Command and was conducted as part of the ongoing Operation Zero Black Spot initiated to identify and dismantle locations allegedly being used by criminals across the state.
Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command, DSP Timfon John, in a statement made available to Correspondents in Uyo, said the raid was in line with the Command’s sustained efforts to rid the state of criminal hideouts, illicit drug activities and other forms of criminality.
According to the statement, the operation was conducted at about 4:00 p.m. on August 11 following intelligence reports on activities at the suspected hideout.
It said five suspects believed to be involved in the distribution and sale of controlled substances were arrested during the operation.
They include Abraham Emmanuel, Happiness Archibong, Esther Okon, Esther Udo, and Chinedu Benjamin.
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Several other suspects reportedly escaped after sighting the police team.
Items recovered from the suspects include large quantities of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, Tramadol, Loud and Ice, as well as ₦42,000 suspected to be proceeds from the illicit drug trade.
The State Commissioner of Police, Baba Muhammad Azare, commended the operatives for their vigilance and commitment, assuring residents that the Command would sustain intelligence-led operations aimed at denying criminal elements safe havens in the state.
CP Azare reiterated that there would be no hiding place for criminals in Akwa Ibom, stressing that the Zero Black Spot initiative was designed to identify, disrupt and dismantle locations linked to drug trafficking, cultism and other violent crimes.
The Police Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide timely information that would assist security agencies in preventing and detecting criminal activities across communities.
