A federal high court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, for trafficking 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria, imposing fines and restitution totalling nearly $6 million.
Justice Joseph Aneke of the federal high court delivered the judgment on Thursday after adopting a plea bargain agreement entered into by the prosecution and the defence in suit number FHC/L/56C/2026.
The vessel’s captain, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, alongside 10 other crew members, was prosecuted following the discovery of cocaine concealed aboard the ship at Apapa Port, Lagos.
The illicit consignment was intercepted by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on January 2, 2026, during an inspection of the vessel at the GDNL Terminal.
The ship had arrived in Nigeria from the Marshall Islands when 31.5 kilograms of cocaine was found hidden in Hatch 3.
Other convicted crew members are 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.
In a statement issued by NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the court convicted all 12 defendants under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act.
According to the judgment, each of the defendants is to pay a fine of N100,000, being the statutory penalty prescribed under the law.
The court further ordered MV Aruna Hulya to pay restitution of $5.3 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“After months before the court, the trial judge on Thursday 11th June 2026 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 N100,000 each, which is the penalty for the offence under the Act.
Also, the 1st defendant, which is the vessel, is to pay restitution to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of $5,300,000 or its equivalent in Naira,” the statement quoted the judge as saying.
Justice Aneke also directed the vessel’s three principal officers — Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad and Melethil Insaf Rahman — to pay an additional restitution of $100,000 each to the federal government.
The remaining crew members were ordered to pay $50,000 each as restitution.
Reacting to the judgment, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), NDLEA chairman and chief executive officer described the conviction as a major setback for international drug trafficking networks.
Marwa said: “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 boss stressed that Nigeria would no longer serve as a transit point for illicit drugs.
“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 added.
Marwa commended officers of the agency’s Apapa Strategic Command for uncovering the cocaine shipment and praised the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for securing the convictions.
