The Abia State Police Command has raided criminal hideouts across the state, arresting 31 suspects for alleged possession of suspected illicit drugs.

The suspects comprise 30 men, aged between 22 and 46, and one woman.

The Command’s spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chinaka, said in a statement that the operation was carried out in line with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Danladi Isa to intensify the fight against crime.

She said the operation also led to the destruction of criminal hideouts as the Command stepped up efforts to dismantle criminal enclaves across the state.

According to Chinaka, acting on credible intelligence, operatives of the Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia, in collaboration with community vigilantes, carried out coordinated raids on identified black spots within the Mission Hill/New Road axis, an area popularly known as “Down Below.”

She described the location as a secluded area with a deep valley extending into the bush.

Another notorious hideout at Amuzukwu, known for drug dealing and serving as a haven for criminals, was also raided.

“During the operation, a total of 30 male suspects and one female suspect were arrested, while various substances suspected to be illicit drugs were recovered,” she said.

Chinaka added that on July 1, following sustained intelligence gathering, the operatives returned to the same locations where several huts and makeshift camps used by criminals as hideouts and centres for storing and selling illicit drugs were discovered.

“About eight tents and camps constructed with bamboo sticks and tarpaulin were dismantled, destroyed and burnt to ashes to dislodge the criminal syndicates and disrupt their activities,” she said.

She disclosed that all the suspects have been charged to court and remanded in a correctional facility.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police has reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to its constitutional responsibility of protecting lives and property, stressing its zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminality.

He assured residents that Abia State would remain hostile to criminals, adding that the Command would continue to review and strengthen its operational strategies to enhance public safety and take the fight against crime directly to criminal hideouts.

Isa also urged residents to support the police by promptly reporting suspicious activities and security concerns to the nearest police station or through the Command’s emergency hotlines.