11 Indian Sailors, Vessel Convicted Over $5.3m Cocaine Smuggling at Lagos Port

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, over the illegal importation of 31.5 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa Seaport.

The conviction followed months of prosecution after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the vessel and uncovered the illicit shipment concealed within its cargo.

How the Drugs Were Discovered

According to court records, the seizure was made on January 2, 2026, at the GDNL Terminal in Apapa Port, Lagos, after NDLEA operatives discovered 31.5kg of cocaine hidden in hatch 3 of the vessel.

The ship, MV Aruna Hulya, reportedly arrived Nigeria from the Marshall Islands before being flagged for inspection, leading to the discovery of the narcotics.

Following the operation, NDLEA officials took the vessel and its 11-member crew into custody.

Those Convicted

The convicted crew included the vessel’s master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, alongside ten other sailors identified as:

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.

They were arraigned on a two-count charge before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

Court Judgment and Penalties

Delivering judgment on Thursday, June 11, 2026, the court found all defendants guilty under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act following a plea bargain arrangement between both parties.

Each of the 12 defendants was fined ₦100,000.

In addition, the court ordered the vessel MV Aruna Hulya to forfeit $5.3 million or its naira equivalent as restitution to the Federal Government.

Three senior officers aboard the ship were also ordered to pay $100,000 each, while the remaining crew members were directed to pay $50,000 each.

NDLEA Reacts

Reacting to the ruling, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the judgment as a strong warning to international drug trafficking syndicates.

In a statement issued by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, Marwa said the conviction reflects Nigeria’s growing determination to combat drug trafficking through intelligence-led operations.

He said the ruling demonstrates that Nigeria’s ports are no longer safe routes for narcotics smugglers.

Marwa added that NDLEA operatives at the Apapa Port acted on credible intelligence, which led to the interception of the drug shipment concealed deep within the vessel’s cargo.

He also commended the agency’s legal team for securing the conviction and reaffirmed the NDLEA’s commitment to sustained surveillance at all entry points into the country.

According to him, Nigeria will continue to intensify efforts to dismantle international drug networks and ensure offenders face the full weight of the law.