July 10 (THEWILL) — Troops of Operation HADIN KAI have intercepted a Chadian woman allegedly transporting illicit drugs, alcohol, and other prohibited substances to terrorists operating in the Lake Chad Islands, dealing what the military described as another significant blow to insurgents’ logistics and supply network in the North-East.
The suspect, identified as 48-year-old Rachael Samuel, a Chadian national from Kelo in Chad’s Chari-Baguirmi Province, was arrested on Thursday during an intelligence-led operation conducted by troops of Sector 3 along the Maiduguri–Monguno Road in Borno State.
According to military sources, the troops intercepted a suspicious vehicle travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area, where a comprehensive search uncovered a cache of prohibited substances believed to be destined for terrorist elements operating in the Lake Chad Islands.
Recovered from the vehicle were seven compressed bundles of suspected cannabis weighing approximately 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.
The troops also recovered a mobile phone, two Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards, cash, and other personal belongings from the suspect.
Military authorities said intelligence gathered before and after the operation indicated that the consignment was intended for terrorist groups hiding in the Lake Chad Islands, where remnants of Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters continue to maintain enclaves despite sustained military offensives.
According to the Theatre Command, terrorist groups have long depended on illicit drugs, alcohol, and other intoxicating substances to stimulate fighters, suppress fear, enhance aggression, and sustain combat operations.
The military described the interception as another breakthrough in ongoing efforts to dismantle the logistics chain sustaining terrorist activities across the North-East, stressing that denying insurgents access to supplies remains a critical component of the counter-insurgency campaign.
The suspect is currently in military custody and will be handed over, alongside the recovered exhibits, to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and prosecution.
Operation HADIN KAI reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining intelligence-driven operations aimed at degrading the operational capabilities of terrorist groups and preventing the movement of logistics to insurgent strongholds.
The Theatre Command also appealed to residents of Borno State and the wider North-East to continue supporting security agencies with credible and timely intelligence, noting that public cooperation remains vital to ongoing efforts to restore lasting peace, security, and stability across the region.
OPERATION HADIN KAI TROOPS INTERCEPT FOREIGN SUSPECT, RECOVER ILLICIT DRUGS DESTINED FOR TERRORISTS IN THE LAKE CHAD ISLANDS
Troops of Sector 3, Joint Task Force North East, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), have recorded another significant operational success in their sustained… pic.twitter.com/EG7HQNLYzC
— Nigerian Army (@HQNigerianArmy) July 10, 2026
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