Troops of the Nigerian Army, working in concert with operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA, have arrested three men suspected of supplying hard drugs to terrorists and other criminal gangs in Katsina State.

The coordinated raid, carried out by soldiers from the Forward Operating Base FOB Malumfashi deployed at Kafur alongside NDLEA personnel from the Malumfashi Area Command, targeted Kagara village in Kafur Local Government Area, a community security officials describe as an emerging hub for illicit drug distribution.

Security sources identified the suspects as Mohammed Lawan, 34, Muhawiya Haruna, 40, and Junadata Usman, 40. They were apprehended during a sweep of locations believed to serve as storage and distribution points for narcotics feeding criminal networks in the area.

Recovered from the suspects were quantities of substances suspected to be cannabis sativa, tramadol capsules, pregabalin, diazepam, Extol-5 tablets, rubber solution, and a toxic liquid locally known as “Suck and Die” spirit. Many of these substances are commonly abused by armed groups to enhance stamina, suppress fear, and maintain prolonged operations, according to counter-narcotics experts.

Preliminary investigations, security officials said, suggest the trio played a role in sustaining the drug supply chain for terrorists and bandits operating in Kafur and neighbouring communities. The suspects are believed to have acted as intermediaries between bulk suppliers and foot soldiers embedded within criminal cells.

The men and the seized exhibits have been transferred to the NDLEA Area Command in Malumfashi for detailed interrogation and prosecution. Investigators are now focusing on tracing their financiers, identifying upstream suppliers, and mapping the wider network that links narcotics trafficking to violent extremism in Katsina and beyond.

Military and NDLEA sources describe the operation as part of a broader strategy to degrade the enabling environment for terrorism by cutting off access to drugs, weapons, and other critical logistics. By targeting the narcotics pipeline, security agencies hope to weaken the operational capacity of armed groups that rely on chemical stimulants to sustain attacks and intimidate rural communities.

Authorities say more joint raids are planned as intelligence-led operations continue across the state, with particular emphasis on rural corridors long exploited by criminal syndicates for smuggling and recruitment.