A Federal High Court, sitting in Lagos, has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, marked MV Aruna Hulya, and fined a total of $6million for 31.5kg cocaine trafficking.
The conviction came barely six months after the 11 Indian nationals and their vessel were arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing the cocaine from Marshall Islands into Nigeria, through the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.
11 Indian Sailors and their road to court
Recall that NDLEA took into custody the Indian crew members and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, following the discovery of the substance in Hatch 3 of the ship at the GDNL terminal, Apapa Port on Friday, 2 January, 2026.
The Master of the Vessel, Sharma Shashi Bhushan and 10 other crew members –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 –were arraigned on two counts charge in suit FHC/ L/56C/2026 before Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
The trial judge, on Thursday, delivered his ruling on plea bargain terms filed by the prosecution and defence in the case.
As a result, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced to pay the sum of ₦100,000 each which is the penalty for the offence under the Act.
In addition, the 1st defendant (the vessel) would pay restitution to Nigeria in the sum of $5,300,000 million or its equivalent in naira.
The three principal officers of the vessel who are the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants –Sharma Shashi Bhushan; Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad; and Melethil Insaf Rahman –would pay restitution to the Federal Government in the sum of $100,000 each.
In the same vein, other crew members –the 5th to 12th defendants –were ordered to pay their restitution in the sum of $50, 000 each to the Nigerian Government.
Reacting to the judgement, NDLEA Chairman/CEO, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the conviction of the vessel and its crew members was a resounding message to every drug trafficking network in the world.
Marwa declared: “Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance.
“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.
Marwa specifically expressed appreciation to the agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for its diligence in the prosecution of the case.
