Troops of the 65 Battalion of the Nigerian Army have intercepted a truck conveying a large consignment of suspected illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road in a major intelligence-led operation aimed at disrupting drug trafficking activities.
The operation, carried out on July 9, 2026, followed actionable intelligence from a credible source and led to the arrest of the truck driver, the Nigerian Army disclosed in a statement.
According to the Army, preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit consignment was being transported to the Berger area of Lagos State. However, the suspect was unable to provide satisfactory information regarding the ownership of the drugs or their intended recipient.
In line with operational procedures, the suspect and the recovered drugs were handed over to the Lagos State Command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
The handover was conducted by the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion, Lt.-Col. S. Adeojo.
Reacting to the successful operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 81 Division, Nigerian Army, Maj.-Gen. Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their vigilance, professionalism and operational efficiency.
He urged the soldiers to sustain the momentum of ongoing operations and intensify efforts to deny drug traffickers and other criminal elements freedom of operation within the 81 Division’s Area of Responsibility.
The latest seizure underscores the growing collaboration between the Nigerian Army and the NDLEA in combating illicit drug trafficking and other organised crimes across the country.
