OPERATION HADIN KAI SMASHES DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN FUELING TERRORISM IN NORTH EAST

Troops of the Joint Task Force, Operation HADIN KAI (OPHK), under Operation DESERT SANITY V, have recorded a major operational breakthrough with the disruption of an illicit drug supply network believed to be supporting terrorist activities in the North East.
Acting on credible intelligence on January 23, 2026, troops arrested a 65-year-old suspected drug trafficker, Hauwa Abulazeez, in Askira Uba Local Government Area of Borno State. The suspect is alleged to be a key supplier of cannabis sativa to Boko Haram terrorist elements operating in Askira Uba, Rumirgo, Gwahi, Wamdiyo, Uvu, and Gaya, as well as a major distributor within several communities across the theatre of operations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the illicit drugs were sourced from Sarti Baruwa Local Government Area of Taraba State and transported through established supply routes for onward distribution to terrorist and criminal networks.
During the operation, troops recovered 14 compressed blocks of cannabis sativa weighing approximately 30 kilograms, a significant seizure aimed at cutting off logistics that sustain terrorism and other criminal activities in the region.
The suspect is currently in military custody undergoing preliminary investigation, while follow-up operations are ongoing to identify, track, and dismantle the wider trafficking and distribution network linked to the illicit trade.