𝗘𝗻𝘂𝗴𝘂 𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝘄𝗼 𝗱𝗿𝘂𝗴 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀

Reported by: Ijeoma .G | Edited by: Henry Owen

The Enugu State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of two suspects identified as Chinedu Nwafor (27) and Ifeanyi Okeke (32) over alleged involvement in illegal possession and distribution of suspected hard drugs in different parts of Enugu metropolis.

The arrests were carried out on Thursday, May 22, 2026, following what police described as an intelligence-led operation conducted by operatives attached to the command’s tactical and anti-narcotics units.

According to a statement issued by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, the suspects were tracked and arrested in coordinated raids carried out at separate locations within Enugu North and Enugu South Local Government Areas after weeks of surveillance.

Police said preliminary investigations showed that the suspects were allegedly part of a small distribution network suspected to be supplying illicit substances to different parts of the city, including student-populated areas and commercial hubs.

During the operation, officers reportedly recovered quantities of suspected illicit drugs, including substances believed to be cannabis sativa and other controlled narcotics. The recovered items have been sealed and transferred to relevant forensic units for laboratory analysis to confirm their composition and classification under Nigeria’s drug laws.

The police stated that the arrest followed intelligence reports received from residents about suspected drug activities in the areas, prompting surveillance operations before the final raid was executed.

Security sources said the suspects were picked up at different times during the coordinated operation, with one arrest taking place at a residential building in Abakpa Nike and the second suspect apprehended at a separate location within Uwani axis of the state capital.

Both suspects are currently in custody and undergoing interrogation to determine the extent of their alleged operations, possible supply routes, and any additional individuals linked to the suspected network.

The Enugu State Commissioner of Police, CP Mamman Giwa, reportedly ordered a full-scale investigation into the case and directed that the suspects be profiled thoroughly as part of broader efforts to dismantle drug distribution networks in the state.

The police further stated that the suspects will be charged to court upon completion of investigations, in line with provisions of Nigeria’s criminal justice system and drug control regulations.

The arrests come amid intensified anti-drug operations in Enugu State and other parts of southeastern Nigeria, where security agencies have increased surveillance on suspected trafficking routes and urban distribution points.

In recent months, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has also stepped up operations in the region, targeting warehouses, transit points, and individuals allegedly involved in the distribution of narcotics, particularly synthetic drugs and cannabis.

Authorities have repeatedly warned that drug abuse and trafficking are contributing to rising cases of violent crime, youth unrest, and social instability across urban centres in Enugu State.

Community leaders in some parts of Enugu have also expressed concern over increasing reports of substance abuse among young people, calling for stronger enforcement and preventive programmes targeting at-risk groups.

Police authorities urged residents to continue providing credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that community cooperation remains essential in identifying and dismantling illegal drug networks.

As of Friday, May 23, 2026, no formal court date had been announced for the suspects, while investigations are still ongoing to establish the full scope of the alleged drug operation and identify other possible accomplices.

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