Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have intercepted a truck conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road, leading to the arrest of the vehicle’s driver.
The operation, carried out on July 9, 2026, followed actionable intelligence received from a credible source, according to a statement issued by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 81 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya.
The Army said the intelligence-led operation resulted in the successful interception of the truck and the recovery of the suspected illicit drugs.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the consignment was being transported to the Berger area of Lagos State. However, the driver reportedly failed to provide satisfactory information regarding the ownership or intended recipient of the drugs.
In line with established procedures, the suspect and the recovered items were handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Lagos State Command, for further investigation and possible prosecution. The handover was conducted by the Commanding Officer of the 65 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S. Adeojo.
Reacting to the successful operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for their vigilance, professionalism and operational effectiveness.
He urged personnel 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 Army reaffirmed its commitment to supporting security agencies in combating drug trafficking and other criminal activities through intelligence-driven operations and inter-agency collaboration.
