Court convicts 11 Indian sailors, orders $6m penalty over cocaine smuggling

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, over the importation of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria, imposing fines and restitution amounting to nearly $6 million.
The vessel and its crew were arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after the illicit consignment was discovered during a routine inspection at Apapa Port in January 2026.
The ship had arrived from the Marshall Islands when the cocaine was found concealed inside one of its cargo compartments.
Delivering judgment, Justice Joseph Aneke upheld a plea bargain agreement reached between the prosecution and the defence, convicting all ...