Troops of the 65 Battalion, Nigerian Army, have intercepted a truck conveying a large consignment of suspected illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road in a major breakthrough against drug trafficking and organised crime.
The operation, carried out on July 9, 2026, followed intelligence from a credible source, leading to the successful interception of the truck and the arrest of its driver before the illicit cargo could reach its destination.
Military authorities stated that preliminary investigations indicate that the consignment was being transported to the Berger area of Lagos state.
However, the suspect reportedly failed to provide satisfactory information regarding the ownership of the drugs or the identity of the intended recipient.
In line with standard operational procedures, the suspect and the recovered illicit drugs 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.
Commending the troops for the successful operation, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, praised their vigilance, professionalism and operational effectiveness.
He charged 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 division’s area of responsibility.
The latest interception underscores the Nigerian Army’s growing collaboration with other security and law enforcement agencies in combating illicit drug trafficking, organised crime and other threats to national security across the country.