Nigerian Army Intercepts Truck Loaded With Suspected Illicit Drugs Along Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road

The Nigerian Army has recorded another major breakthrough in its ongoing fight against drug trafficking after troops of the 65 Battalion intercepted a truck carrying a large consignment of suspected illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road.

According to the Army, the operation was successfully carried out on July 9, 2026, following credible intelligence that led security personnel to the suspected vehicle. The intelligence-driven mission resulted in the arrest of the truck driver and the recovery of the suspected narcotics before they could reach their intended destination.

In a statement released by the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations for the 81 Division Nigerian Army, Lieutenant Colonel Musa Yahaya, the Army said the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of intelligence-led security operations in disrupting criminal activities across the country.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the consignment was reportedly being transported to the Berger area of Lagos State. However, during questioning, the driver was unable to provide satisfactory information regarding the ownership of the drugs or identify the intended recipient of the shipment.

Following the interception, the Nigerian Army handed over both the suspect and the recovered substances 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) of the 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, praised the troops for their professionalism, vigilance, and operational efficiency. He encouraged the soldiers to sustain the momentum and intensify efforts aimed at denying drug traffickers and other criminal elements the freedom to operate within the division’s area of responsibility.

The Army reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with other security and law enforcement agencies in combating drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime across Nigeria. It emphasized that intelligence sharing and inter-agency collaboration remain vital in addressing the growing threat posed by illegal drug networks.

The latest interception adds to a series of successful operations carried out by the Nigerian military and the NDLEA in recent months. Security agencies have repeatedly warned that drug trafficking syndicates frequently use major highways and interstate transport routes, including the Lagos–Calabar corridor, to move illegal substances to distribution hubs across the country.

In several intelligence-led operations nationwide, military personnel have intercepted vehicles transporting suspected cannabis, tramadol, codeine-based syrups, methamphetamine, and other prohibited substances. Most of the seized consignments have been transferred to the NDLEA for detailed investigations and prosecution.

The NDLEA has also intensified its nationwide campaign against drug trafficking, recording multiple seizures of cocaine, cannabis, methamphetamine, opioid-based pharmaceuticals, and other illicit substances at airports, seaports, border communities, and major highways.

Authorities maintain that the sustained crackdown is aimed at dismantling organized drug trafficking networks, reducing the circulation of illicit substances, and addressing the link between drug abuse, organized crime, and insecurity across Nigeria.

The successful interception along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road underscores the continued efforts of Nigeria’s security agencies to strengthen border and highway surveillance while preventing illegal drugs from reaching communities and fueling criminal activities.