By Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Nigerian military has intensified its crackdown on illicit drug trafficking in Borno State, arresting five suspected drug dealers and recovering large quantities of cannabis, controlled substances and cash during coordinated raids in Pulka and Gwoza.
The successful operations, carried out by troops of Operation HADIN KAI, underscore the military’s renewed determination to dismantle criminal networks accused of fuelling insecurity and insurgency across the North-East.
Security sources disclosed that the operations were executed by troops of the 192 Battalion (Motorised), Forward Operating Base (FOB) Pulka, alongside personnel of the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison as part of sustained efforts to rid the theatre of operations of drug trafficking syndicates.
During the first raid, conducted at about 4:00 p.m. on July 2 in Pulka, troops apprehended three suspects identified as Bamadu Grama (25), Usman Usman (28), and Bana Buba (30).
Items recovered from the suspects included 151 wraps of cannabis, two sacks of cannabis, three bottles of a substance popularly known as “Suck and Die,” one bottle of cough expectorant, three packs of Tramadol tablets, one pack of “Orisk,” 39 white tablets suspected to be illicit drugs, two mobile phones, and ₦20,000 in cash.
In a follow-up operation at about 9:45 p.m. on July 3, troops of the 26 Task Force Brigade Garrison stormed another suspected drug distribution point in Gwoza, leading to the arrest of Akawu Adamu (52) and Abba Yuguda (37).
The raid yielded 114 wraps of cannabis, one bottle of cough syrup, one bottle of “Suck and Die,” a sack containing “Captain Black,” a sack of cannabis seeds, 44 wraps of “Captain Black,” 34 wraps of “Arizona,” one MP3 player, one Itel mobile phone, and ₦64,700 in cash.
The arrested suspects are currently in military custody and are expected to undergo further investigation before being handed over for prosecution.
Security sources said the latest operations form part of Operation HADIN KAI’s broader campaign to disrupt the supply of illicit drugs, which intelligence reports have repeatedly linked to criminal gangs and insurgent activities operating in parts of the North-East.
According to the sources, the military remains committed to sustaining offensive operations against drug trafficking networks and other criminal enterprises whose activities threaten public safety and national security.
The latest bust is being viewed as another significant breakthrough in the military’s ongoing efforts to deny criminal elements access to substances believed to fuel violent crimes and insurgent operations in the region.
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