By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says it has recorded a major breakthrough in its ongoing war against drug trafficking as a Federal High Court in Lagos convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, marked MV Aruna Hulya, over the importation of 31.5 kg of cocaine through the Apapa Port.
The judgment, which comes barely six months after the suspects were arrested, also imposed a combined financial penalty of $6 million on the defendants and the vessel, in one of the most significant convictions in Nigeria’s recent anti-narcotics operations.
Persecondnews received details of the judgment on Thursday from the Director of Media and Advocacy of NDLEA, Femi Babafemi.
According to the agency, the case followed an intelligence led interception on January 2, 2026, when NDLEA operatives discovered cocaine concealed in hatch 3 of the vessel at the GDNL Terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos.
The vessel’s Master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 10 other crew members were arrested and later arraigned before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos, in suit FHC/L/56C/2026.
Other convicted crew members include Bharati Manoj Kumar, Nevage Sandesh Suresh, Pandey Prashant, Nuttu Anand, Akash Babu, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, Melethil Insaf Rahman, Barla Chantanya Krishna, Prabhasukhan Singu, and Jai Parkash.
After months of trial proceedings, the court adopted a plea bargain agreement between the prosecution and defence, convicting all defendants under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act.
The court imposed a ₦100,000 fine on each of the 12 defendants.
It further ordered the forfeiture of the vessel, directing MV Aruna Hulya to pay $5.3 million as restitution to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The court also ordered the principal officers of the vessel to pay $100,000 each, while other crew members were directed to pay $50,000 each as restitution.
Retired Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa,Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA described the ruling as a major milestone in Nigeria’s war against drug trafficking.
He said the conviction sends a clear and unambiguous message to international drug cartels that Nigeria can no longer be used as a safe corridor for narcotics.
He commended NDLEA operatives at the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance in detecting the concealed cocaine shipment, as well as the agency’s prosecution team for securing the conviction.
“The judgment demonstrates that Nigeria is no longer a safe haven for cocaine or any other illicit substance,” he said.
He further warned that anyone attempting to exploit Nigeria’s borders for drug trafficking would face the full weight of the law.
“This is the third conviction of its kind in recent times, achieved through intelligence-led operations. Anyone attempting to use our borders for narcotics will face the full weight of the law,” he added.
The NDLEA said the conviction forms part of a growing number of successful prosecutions involving foreign nationals and vessels intercepted through intelligence-led operations across Nigeria’s entry points.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying the fight against drug trafficking through air, land, and sea routes, stressing that Nigeria’s borders will continue to be tightly monitored against narcotics syndicates.
Authorities said the ruling further reinforces Nigeria’s determination to dismantle international drug trafficking networks and secure its ports against illicit drug movements.
Author
Leave a comment