Troops Intercept Suspected Foreign Courier, Seize Terrorists’ Drug Supply
By Anne Osemekeh, Abuja
Troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have intercepted a suspected foreign drug courier allegedly transporting illicit drugs, alcohol and other prohibited substances intended for terrorist elements operating in the Lake Chad Islands.
Disclosing this in a statement, OPHK’s Acting Military Information Officer, Capt. Mohammed Goni, said the operation followed actionable intelligence and was carried out on Thursday, 9 July 2026, during search operations along the Maiduguri–Monguno road.
Troops stopped a suspicious vehicle heading towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State and arrested the suspect, identified as 48-year-old Mrs. Rachael Samuel, a Chadian national from Kelo in Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad.
Military authorities said preliminary investigations indicate that the recovered items were being transported to terrorist hideouts within the Lake Chad Islands.
Recovered exhibits include seven compressed bundles of suspected Cannabis sativa weighing about 30 kilograms, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, popularly known as “Suck and Die,” one carton containing 48 bottles of dry gin, 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic beverages, a mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, cash and other personal effects. The seized items are estimated to be worth millions of naira.
The suspect is in military custody, while the recovered exhibits will be handed over to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and prosecution.
Operation HADIN KAI said the interception underscores its resolve to dismantle the logistics networks sustaining terrorist operations. According to the military, intelligence has consistently shown that terrorist groups rely on illicit drugs and intoxicants to stimulate fighters, suppress fear and facilitate violent attacks.
The Theatre Command commended the vigilance and professionalism of the troops, assuring the public that operations against terrorists and their collaborators would continue unabated. It also urged citizens to continue providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.
