Troops Intercept Suspected Foreign Terrorist Drug Courier In Borno

Troops of Operation Hadin Kai have intercepted a suspected foreign terrorist drug courier in Borno State, recovering cannabis, chemicals, alcohol and other items allegedly headed for the Lake Chad area.

The interception took place on Thursday during a search operation along the Maiduguri-Monguno axis, where troops stopped a suspicious vehicle travelling towards Kwatan Doron Baga in Kukawa Local Government Area.

The suspect was identified in the military statement as 48-year-old Rachael Samuel, a Chadian national from Kelo in Chari-Baguirmi Province. The army said preliminary findings showed that the seized items were being moved to locations within the Lake Chad Islands.

Channels TV and Daily Post both reported that the recovered items included seven compressed bundles of suspected Cannabis sativa weighing about 30 kilogrammes, two 10-litre containers of hydromercuric chloride, one carton of 48 bottles of dry gin and 61 bottles of herbal alcoholic drinks.

The reports also listed one mobile phone, two ATM cards, personal effects and cash among the items recovered. The military said the suspect was in custody and that the exhibits had been secured for handover to the appropriate law enforcement agency for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Mohammed Goni, acting military information officer for the operation, said intelligence had linked illicit drugs and intoxicants to terrorist logistics networks in the North-East. He said the interception disrupted another route through which supplies could reach armed groups.

Sources: Daily Post, Channels TV