Soldiers Intercept Suspected Foreign Courier Carrying Drugs to Terrorists in Borno

Troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have intercepted a suspected foreign courier allegedly transporting illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances to terrorist enclaves in the Lake Chad region of Borno State.

The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Chadian national Mrs Rachael Samuel, was arrested during a military operation along the Maiduguri–Monguno road while travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area.

The Acting Military Information Officer of Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, disclosed the arrest in a statement issued on Friday through the Nigerian Army.

According to the military, troops intercepted the suspect during a routine search operation after stopping a suspicious vehicle moving towards the Lake Chad Islands, an area security agencies have identified as a stronghold of terrorist groups.

Items recovered from the suspect included seven compressed bundles of suspected cannabis sativa weighing about 30 kilogrammes, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, popularly known as “Suck and Die”, one carton containing 48 bottles of dry gin and 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic beverages.

Security personnel also recovered a mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine cards, cash and other personal belongings from the suspect. The military said the seized items are worth several millions of naira.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the prohibited substances were allegedly being transported to locations within the Lake Chad Islands where terrorist elements are believed to operate.

Captain Goni said intelligence reports have consistently shown that terrorist groups rely on illicit drugs and intoxicants to stimulate fighters, suppress fear and sustain violent operations.

He noted that intercepting the consignment dealt another blow to the logistics and supply network supporting insurgent activities in the North East.

The suspect remains in military custody while the recovered exhibits have been secured pending transfer to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for further investigation and prosecution.

Operation HADIN KAI said the latest operation reflects its continued commitment to dismantling terrorist supply chains and denying criminal groups access to materials that could strengthen their operations.

The military urged members of the public to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies, stressing that cooperation between residents and the armed forces remains essential to sustaining ongoing counter-terrorism operations across the North East.