Operation Hadin Kai troops intercepted a suspected foreign terrorist drug courier carrying a large haul of illicit substances and alcohol.
In a statement, the operation’s Acting Military Information Officer, Captain Mohammed Goni, described the arrest as “another significant operational success in their sustained campaign to degrade the logistical networks supporting terrorist activities in the North-East”
He noted that the seized contraband is believed to be destined for terrorist cells operating within the Lake Chad Islands.
Goni confirmed the Thursday interception occurred during an intensive search along the Maiduguri–Monguno axis, where troops cornered a suspicious vehicle heading toward Kwatan Doron Baga in Borno State’s Kukawa Local Government Area.
“The suspect, identified as Mrs Rachael Samuel (48), a Chadian national from Kelo in Chari-Baguirmi Province, Republic of Chad, was arrested while conveying the prohibited items. Preliminary findings indicate that the recovered substances were being moved to locations within the Lake Chad Islands, an area known to harbour terrorist elements,” the statement read in part.
The military recovered seven compressed bundles of suspected Cannabis sativa weighing about 30 kilograms, two 10-liter jugs of hydromercuric chloride, popularly known as “Suck and Die,” and a single carton packed with 48 bottles of dry gin and 61 bottles of herbal liquor.
Goni noted that the illicit shipment’s total market value easily reaches millions of naira.
Additional items retrieved from the scene include cash, personal belongings, a mobile phone, and two ATM cards.
“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 accordance with extant laws,” he said.
He noted that the interception underscores Operation Hadin Kai’s unwavering resolve to block the logistics and supplies fueling terrorist operations.
“Available intelligence has consistently shown that illicit drugs and intoxicants are frequently used by terrorist groups to stimulate fighters, suppress fear, and facilitate violent operations. By intercepting the consignment before it reached its destination, the troops have disrupted another critical aspect of the terrorists’ support network,” the command stated.
The command went on to praise the “vigilance and professionalism of the troops” while reassuring the public that the relentless crackdown on terrorists and their syndicates will not waver.
