The Delta State Police Command has arrested 16 suspects and recovered firearms, a stolen Toyota Camry and suspected illicit drugs in separate operations across the state.
The operations also disrupted a suspected cult gathering and stopped an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site, according to the command.
Eight suspects were arrested when operatives of the Command Anti-Cult Unit, Ozoro, raided a suspected cult meeting in Aragba-Orogun.
The police said the raid followed intelligence about a planned gathering by suspected cult members.
Those arrested were identified as Godspower Achubue, Ziden Edem, Kingsley Aniefem, Omita John, Onumu Happy, Kenneth Ukpurakpo, Juliet Festus and Oghenegueke Okuanah.
A subsequent search of the residence of one of the suspects uncovered a pump-action firearm and a live cartridge, the police said.
In a separate case, police arrested Collins Dunkun, 30, over an alleged extortion attempt at a construction site on September 8.
According to the command, the suspects allegedly stormed the site, stopped workers and took away their tools before demanding N700,000 to allow construction work to continue.
Six other suspects reportedly escaped before the police arrived, while officers recovered a locally made single-barrel pistol and a cartridge from Dunkun.
The command said its operatives were working to track down the fleeing suspects.
Meanwhile, a police surveillance team arrested five people during a raid on an incomplete building at King Zanga, Ugbuegwai Community, Warri.
The operation was conducted on September 8 after the police received intelligence linking the building to suspected illicit drug activities.
The suspects were identified as Rabi’u Salihu, Salisu Suleiman, Rabilu Ali, Alhassan Mohd Mansur and Aliyu Abubakar.
Police said suspected Indian hemp, Codeine, Colorado, Rizla, SK and Canadian Loud were recovered from the building.
In Ekpan, police also recovered a Toyota Camry allegedly stolen from Benin City and arrested two suspects in connection with the vehicle.
The suspects, Destiny Suleman, 41, and Samuel Ejiro, 21, were arrested after investigators traced the brown Toyota Camry Pencil Light to the New Era area of Jakpa Road.
The vehicle, with registration number BEN-572BT, was said to have been stolen in Benin City on September 7.
Police operatives reportedly laid an ambush at the location after tracing the vehicle through an intelligence-led investigation.
The Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Samuel E. Erale, said the command would maintain pressure on criminal groups across the state.
He warned that cultism, illegal possession of firearms, extortion and illicit drug activities would attract police action.
Erale said the command would continue to adopt proactive measures aimed at preventing crime and dismantling criminal networks.
The police said all the suspects remain in custody as investigations into the various cases continue.