The Oyo State police command has arrested a suspected drug dealer identified as Rilwan over alleged involvement in hard drugs in the Apata area of Ibadan.

The state police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, said in a statement on Saturday that the 28-year old suspect was arrested on Saturday at about 8:00 a.m, following credible intelligence received by the command.

He said, “Acting on the intelligence, surveillance operatives of the Iyaganku Area Command commenced targeted surveillance operations which culminated in the arrest of the suspect.”

He stated that items recovered from the suspect included a quantity of dry leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and a white crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine, alongside other suspected dangerous drugs.

Mr Olayinka noted that the suspect was currently in police custody and cooperating with investigators as preliminary investigation continued to establish the source of the drugs.

He added command was investigating the extent of his involvement in the illicit drug trade, as well as identifying other persons who might be connected to the activities.

The state Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, reiterated the command’s determination to sustain intelligence-led operations against drug trafficking and other criminal activities across the state.

He noted that illicit drugs constituted a significant catalyst for various forms of crime and criminality.

“The suspect will be charged to court upon the conclusion of the preliminary investigation,” he said.