Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested four suspected members of a phone theft syndicate and recovered nine brand-new Android phones believed to have been stolen from retail shops in Asaba and surrounding communities.

The arrests followed an intelligence-led operation carried out on July 25 after police received reports of a series of phone thefts targeting business premises in the Delta State capital. The suspects were apprehended at their hideout along St. Brigid’s Road in Asaba during a coordinated raid by detectives.

Stolen Phones Recovered During Raid

According to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, officers searched the suspects’ hideout after the arrests and recovered nine new Android phones, all still sealed in their original cartons.

Preliminary investigations, he said, revealed that the suspects belonged to an organised criminal network that specialised in stealing new mobile phones from shops before moving the devices out of the state for resale. The suspects have reportedly confessed to their roles in the operation, while investigations continue to identify additional members of the syndicate and trace the rightful owners of the recovered phones.

Police Reveal How Syndicate Operated

Investigators said the group employed a calculated method to avoid suspicion while carrying out the thefts.

According to Edafe, members of the syndicate typically entered phone shops and supermarkets pretending to be genuine customers. Once inside, they allegedly concealed brand-new phones inside newspapers before quietly leaving the premises without attracting attention.

Police also alleged that a female member of the group handled the transportation of the stolen devices by sending them to Lagos through waybill services. Once the phones arrived, their International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers were allegedly altered before they were sold to unsuspecting buyers, making it more difficult for investigators to trace the devices.

Investigation Ongoing as Police Hunt Other Suspects

The Delta State Police Command said efforts are underway to apprehend other members of the syndicate who remain at large.

Authorities added that investigators are working to establish the full scope of the group’s operations, recover additional stolen property and reconnect the recovered phones with their legitimate owners.

The four suspects remain in police custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.

Commissioner Reaffirms Commitment to Fighting Crime

Reacting to the breakthrough, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, commended the officers involved in the operation and reiterated the command’s commitment to tackling robbery, theft and other property-related crimes across the state.

He urged business owners, traders and members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious individuals or activities to law enforcement agencies, noting that timely intelligence remains critical to preventing criminal activities and ensuring the safety of residents.

The latest operation forms part of the Delta State Police Command’s ongoing intelligence-driven strategy aimed at dismantling organised criminal networks and improving security across the state.