By Deborah Nnamdi
Police operatives in Ondo State have apprehended two individuals, one of them a 17-year-old, for alleged involvement in drug trafficking near Ikare Junction in Owo Local Government Area.
The suspects, identified as 17-year-old Usman Muhammad and 27-year-old Usman Bashir—both natives of Kaduna State—were reportedly caught transporting 51 bags of dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp. Each bag is estimated to weigh around 9 kilograms.
The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, SP Ayanlade Olayinka, confirmed the arrests in a statement issued from Akure.
“In strict compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, officers have intensified intelligence-led operations targeting criminal financiers and drug peddlers fueling cult-related violence and other criminal activities,” he stated.
According to SP Olayinka, operatives of the Tactical Intelligence Response Squad (TIRS) carried out the operation on Wednesday, June 19, 2025, around 9:50 a.m., acting on credible intelligence.
“The 51 bags of suspected Indian hemp have been recovered and secured as evidence. The suspects are currently in custody, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the broader criminal network behind the trafficking of these illicit substances,” he added.
The Commissioner of Police has commended the swift and coordinated efforts of the officers involved, reaffirming the Command’s resolve to rid the state of all criminal elements.
He also assured the public of the police command’s continued efforts to pursue and dismantle organized crime rings threatening the peace and safety of residents in Ondo State
