Suspected Delta gunrunner arrested during stop-and-search
Operatives of the Dragon 14 of the Delta State Police Command have arrested a suspected gunrunner with three AK-47 rifles, 2,080 rounds of 7.62 mm AK-47 ammunition and another 1,040 rounds of 51mm ammunition loaded in four boxes.
The suspect, Peter James, aged 55 years, an indigene of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, was reportedly nabbed on March 3, 2025, at about 1200hrs while the operatives were carrying out a stop and search duty along the Warri-Benin Road by Western Delta University, Oghara.
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on Monday, noted that the operatives intercepted a blue colour Toyota Camry with Reg No PHC 257 NT driven by the suspect.
“The driver was asked to open the trunk of the vehicle, during which it was observed that the trunk of the said Camry, popularly known as ‘Big Daddy’, was unusually small. This aroused the suspicion of the men who were convinced that the vehicle had been modified for malicious purposes.
“The operatives then proceeded and removed the seat of the vehicle, only to discover the exhibits.
“The exhibits have since been recovered and the suspect is in custody just as an investigation is ongoing”.
In a related development, PUNCH Metro gathered on Monday that the command’s operatives attached to the Dragon Patrol Team 02 while on stop and search duty along the Asaba-Benin Expressway by National Open University, Onicha-Ugbo, on March 6, 2025, at about 1100hrs, intercepted a Navy Blue Sharon space bus with registration number DKA 408 LM driven by one Yahuza Magaji, aged 69 years old in company of one Abba Sani, aged 17 years old, both of Lere LGA in Kaduna State.
According to the PPRO, the duo disguised as traders transporting palm oil and garri, but the police who insisted on a thorough search of the vehicle, recovered seven pump action guns and five cartons containing 1,600 rounds of live cartridges concealed under the back seat of the vehicle.
Preliminary investigation revealed that suspects bought the arms from Onitsha and were transporting them to Kaduna State.
The suspects are already in custody and the investigation is ongoing.
The CP mandated all tactical commanders, Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers “to up their game and ensure that they make the area of responsibilities uninhabitable for criminals.”
