A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, for cocaine trafficking, imposing a total fine of six million US dollars. The conviction comes barely six months after their arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing 31.5 kilograms of cocaine from the Marshall Islands into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport in Lagos.
Arrest and Discovery
The NDLEA took custody of the Indian crew members and their vessel following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine in hatch 3 of the ship. The operation was carried out by NDLEA operatives at the GDNL terminal, Apapa port, Lagos, on Friday, 2nd January 2026.
Defendants and Charges
The Master of the Vessel, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, along with ten other crew members, were arraigned on two counts in suit number FHC/L/56C/2026 before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos. The other defendants included: 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.
Judgment and Sentencing
After months of legal proceedings, the trial judge delivered his ruling on Thursday, June 11, based on plea bargain terms filed by both the prosecution and the defense. Consequently, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced to pay a fine of N100,000 each, which is the penalty prescribed under the Act.
Additionally, the first defendant, the vessel, was ordered to pay restitution to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of $5,300,000 or its equivalent in Naira. The three principal officers of the vessel, namely Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, and Melethil Insaf Rahman, were also ordered to pay $100,000 each in restitution. The remaining crew members, from the 5th to 12th defendants, were ordered to pay $50,000 each.
NDLEA Chairman's Reaction
Reacting to the landmark judgment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), noted that the conviction of the vessel and its crew sends a resounding message to drug trafficking networks worldwide that Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance.
He stated: "This judgment is the third of its kind in recent times, following the convictions of foreign nationals and vessels on similar charges. Let it be known that these are not coincidences; they are the direct result of deliberate, intelligence-led operations by our officers who remain vigilant at every port of entry. The NDLEA will not relent. Whether you come by air, land, or sea; whether you are a Nigerian or a foreign national, if you attempt to use our waters as a narcotics highway, you will face the full weight of Nigerian law. Our courts have spoken, and we will continue to give them reason to speak. The war against drug trafficking is one we are winning, and we intend to keep it that way."
He commended the officers, men, and women of the Apapa Strategic Command of the Agency for their vigilance in identifying the cocaine consignment buried deep within the cargo of a massive commodity vessel. He specifically expressed appreciation to the Agency's Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their diligence in the prosecution of the case.
