Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion have intercepted a truck loaded with a large consignment of suspected illicit drugs along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road, leading to the arrest of the driver and the handover of the haul to anti-narcotics authorities.

The operation, carried out by personnel under 81 Division, followed what military sources described as “actionable intelligence” from a credible informant. Acting on the tip-off, soldiers mounted a targeted stop-and-search along a section of the coastal corridor and flagged down the suspicious truck.

On inspection, the troops reportedly discovered a substantial quantity of substances believed to be hard drugs, carefully concealed in the vehicle. The driver was immediately detained after failing to provide convincing documentation or a verifiable explanation for the cargo.

Preliminary military investigations indicated that the consignment was destined for the Berger axis of Lagos, a major transport and commercial hub that security agencies say is increasingly exploited by criminal networks for distribution.

Security officials familiar with the operation said the suspect could not give satisfactory details about the ownership of the drugs or identify the intended recipient, raising suspicions that he was part of a wider trafficking chain that uses hired drivers and compartmentalised information to shield key financiers.

In accordance with inter-agency protocols, the suspect and the seized consignment were transferred to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, Lagos State Command, for detailed investigation, forensic analysis of the substances and possible prosecution. The formal handover was conducted by the Commanding Officer of 65 Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel S Adeojo.

Senior military officers say the interception underscores the growing role of the armed forces in supporting law-enforcement agencies against organised crime, particularly along emerging transport corridors such as the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Road, where increased vehicular movement has created new opportunities for smugglers.

The General Officer Commanding 81 Division, Major General Adebayo Babalola, commended the troops for what he described as vigilance, professionalism and operational effectiveness. He urged them to sustain the tempo of operations and intensify patrols aimed at denying drug traffickers and other criminal elements freedom of action within the division’s area of responsibility.

Security analysts note that such joint operations between the military and NDLEA are becoming central to Nigeria’s broader strategy to disrupt drug supply chains, cut off funding for criminal groups and improve safety along key national highways.