Troops Arrest Suspected Drug Courier Linked to Terrorists in Borno

(Drug Courier. Photo by Punch News)

Troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI, have intercepted a suspected foreign drug courier and recovered a large consignment of illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages, and other prohibited items allegedly meant for t3rrorists operating in the Lake Chad Islands.

The suspect was arrested during an operation on Thursday, July 9, 2026, while travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East) Operation HADIN KAI, Capt. Mohammed Goni, disclosed this in a statement posted on the Nigerian Army's social media handle on Friday.

According to Goni, the operation took place during an intensive search exercise along the Maiduguri–Monguno axis, where troops intercepted a suspicious vehicle heading towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

He identified the suspect as Mrs Rachael Samuel, 48, a Chadian national from Kelo in Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad, who was arrested while conveying the prohibited items.

Preliminary findings, he said, indicate that the recovered substances were being transported to locations within the Lake Chad Islands, an area known to harbour t3rrorist elements.

Items recovered from the suspect include 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.

Other items recovered include a mobile phone, two ATM cards, personal effects, and cash.

The military said the recovered items have an estimated market value running into millions of naira.

According to the statement, the suspect is currently in military custody, while all recovered exhibits have been secured pending handover to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and prosecution in line with existing laws.

The military noted that the interception underscores Operation HADIN KAI's resolve to disrupt t3rrorist logistics and supply chains in the North-East, adding that available intelligence has consistently shown that illicit drugs and intoxicants are frequently used by t3rrorist groups to stimulate fighters, suppress fear, and facilitate violent operations.

By intercepting the consignment before it reached its destination, the statement said, troops have disrupted another critical part of the t3rrorists' support network.

The Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance and professionalism and assured residents that operations against t3rrorists and their collaborators would continue, while urging members of the public to keep providing timely and credible information to security agencies to support efforts to restore lasting peace and security across the North-East.