Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno

Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno

Operation HADIN KAI troops have intercepted a suspected foreign courier allegedly transporting a large consignment of illicit drugs, alcoholic beverages and other prohibited substances believed to be destined for terrorist groups operating in the Lake Chad Islands of Borno State.

The successful operation was carried out by troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, during a coordinated search mission along the Maiduguri–Monguno highway on Thursday, July 9, 2026. Military authorities said the suspect was intercepted while travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, an area close to the Lake Chad Basin that has remained a strategic route used by insurgents and their logistics networks.

According to the Acting Military Information Officer, Headquarters Joint Task Force (North East), Operation HADIN KAI, Captain Mohammed Goni, the suspect was identified as Mrs. Rachael Samuel, a 48-year-old Chadian national from Kelo, Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad.

Captain Goni disclosed that preliminary investigations indicate the prohibited items were being transported to locations within the Lake Chad Islands, an area that has long served as a stronghold for Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).

Items recovered during the operation included seven compressed bundles of suspected cannabis sativa weighing approximately 30 kilogrammes, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, popularly known as “Suck and Die,” 48 bottles of dry gin, 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic beverages, one mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, cash and other personal belongings.

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Military authorities said the recovered exhibits are valued at millions of naira, adding that the suspect is currently in military custody while the seized items have been secured pending handover to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and prosecution.

The military described the interception as another major success in ongoing efforts to dismantle the logistics and supply chains that sustain terrorist operations in Nigeria’s North-East.

According to the statement, intelligence gathered over the years has consistently shown that terrorist groups often rely on illicit drugs, alcohol and other intoxicants to stimulate fighters, suppress fear and sustain violent attacks against both civilians and security personnel.

By intercepting the consignment before it reached its intended destination, the troops disrupted what the military described as a critical support network used by terrorist elements operating within the Lake Chad Basin, a region spanning parts of Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Cameroon that has witnessed years of insurgency.

The latest operation adds to a series of recent offensives by Operation HADIN KAI targeting terrorist logistics, weapons supplies and cross-border movements. Nigerian troops, supported by the Nigerian Air Force, have intensified coordinated land and air operations across Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states, leading to the destruction of terrorist enclaves, recovery of weapons, rescue of kidnapped victims and the surrender of several insurgents and their family members.

Security analysts have repeatedly warned that disrupting terrorist logistics remains one of the most effective strategies for weakening insurgent groups. Beyond military offensives, cutting off access to drugs, food supplies, fuel, weapons and financial support significantly reduces the operational capability of armed groups.

The Theatre Command commended the troops for their vigilance, professionalism and commitment to protecting national security. It reaffirmed that operations against terrorists and their collaborators would continue until lasting peace is restored across the North-East.

The military also urged residents to continue providing credible and timely intelligence to security agencies, stressing that public cooperation remains crucial in identifying suspicious movements, dismantling criminal networks and sustaining the gains recorded in the fight against terrorism.

Troops intercept foreign courier carrying drugs, alcohol to terrorists in Borno