Nigerian Court Convicts Indian Sailors in Cocaine Trafficking Case

A Nigerian court has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their ship for trafficking cocaine into the country, with fines totaling $6 million. This is part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking in Nigeria. The crew was arrested with drugs at Apapa port earlier this year.

A Nigerian court has reached a verdict against 11 Indian sailors and their vessel, imposing fines amounting to $6 million for trafficking cocaine into Nigeria, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Thursday. The Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the crew of the merchant ship MV Aruna Hulya after authorities discovered 31.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed aboard at Apapa port earlier this year.

Part of a larger effort by Nigerian authorities to intensify measures against drug trafficking, the case highlights the growing scrutiny on key commercial entry points like Lagos. Nigeria has been working to bolster enforcement against drug trafficking networks that frequently use the country as a transit route for illicit substances destined for European and other international markets.

The crew, including captain Sharma Shashi Bhushan and 10 Indian nationals, were detained on January 2 following the discovery of drugs hidden in a ship's storage compartment by NDLEA operatives. All 12 defendants, including the vessel itself, have been convicted under Nigeria's anti-drug laws. The court has mandated the ship to pay $5.3 million in restitution to the Nigerian government, with additional fines imposed on crew members. Chairman of NDLEA, Mohamed Buba Marwa, asserted the judgement sends a strong warning to international drug trafficking networks.