The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a convicted drug dealer and rescued a 14-year-old boy allegedly recruited to deliver suspected illicit drugs to customers.

The arrest followed an operation by operatives of the command’s Violent Crimes Response Unit (VCRU) during a routine patrol on October 26, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Nafiu Habib, who disclosed the development in a statement on Tuesday.

Habib said the officers intercepted the teenager, identified as Samuel Nkemakolan Kosi, at about 11:00 a.m. while he was allegedly on his way to deliver a granular, whitish substance suspected to be methamphetamine, also known as Ice.

During interrogation, the boy reportedly told the police that he had been sent by Samuel Ogochukwu, a 22-year-old convicted drug dealer, to deliver the substance to a customer.

Detectives subsequently traced and arrested Ogochukwu at his location.

A search of the suspect’s shop and residence led to the recovery of 3.5 grammes of suspected methamphetamine, 17 sachets of 100-milligramme tramadol capsules, five sachets of 300-milligramme pregabalin capsules and seven sachets of diazepam.

Other items recovered included 12 Exol tablets, two wraps of a substance known as Yellow Boys and one sachet of a substance called Shine Shine Leather.

The police spokesman added that the suspect told investigators he received supplies of illicit drugs through waybills from Onitsha, Anambra State.

He said the 14-year-old had been handled in line with juvenile protection procedures and would be reunited with his family after counselling.

Ogochukwu, however, would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation, Habib said.

The Commissioner of Police in Bauchi State, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, commended the VCRU operatives for their efforts in tackling drug trafficking and other criminal activities.

According to the command, the operation was the fourth major drug-related bust in 10 days, during which suspects arrested in the previous operations had also secured convictions.

Aliyu assured residents that the command would sustain its operations against drug trafficking and other forms of criminality across the state.