The Katsina State Police Command has arrested a suspected drug trafficker and broken up a four-member armed robbery gang allegedly involved in criminal activities across Funtua and nearby communities.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Abubakar Sadiq-Aliyu, the operations resulted in the recovery of illicit drugs, weapons, stolen property, and cash.
In one of the operations, police officers acting on intelligence arrested 22-year-old Aliyu Umar, popularly known as “Makami,” during a raid in the Jabiri area of Funtua Local Government Area on May 28. Authorities said the suspect had been under investigation for alleged involvement in drug trafficking within the community.
Items recovered from him included 38 tablets of Exol, 28 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, and a knife. Police believe he is part of a larger drug distribution network, while investigations continue.
In a separate operation, officers attached to the Makera Police Division arrested three suspected members of an armed robbery syndicate identified as Salim Umar, 24, Yusuf Mustapha, 23, and Gaddafi Idris, 27.
The suspects were apprehended on May 21 following intelligence reports linking them to crimes such as phone snatching, motorcycle theft, shop burglary, and related offences.
A search conducted on the suspects led to the recovery of several weapons, including knives, machetes, scissors, and an iron pinch bar. Police also recovered mobile phones, SIM cards, charms, and cash believed to be connected to their activities.
The command stated that further investigations are underway to uncover the full scope of the gang’s operations and determine whether they are connected to other criminal incidents within the state.
