By Kofoworola Fakeye, JKNewsMedia Reporter
CONVICTIONS AND fines totalling $6 million have been imposed on 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, over the importation of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport in Lagos.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) took the Indian crew members and the vessel into custody after its operatives discovered 31.5 kilograms of cocaine in hatch three of the ship at the GDNL terminal, Apapa Port, Lagos, 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 a two-count charge in suit number FHC/L/56C/2026 before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Justice Aneke delivered his ruling on Thursday 11 June 2026 on plea bargain terms filed by the prosecution and defence after months before the court.
The court convicted all 12 defendants under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced each to pay ₦100,000, being the penalty prescribed for the offence under the Act.
The court also ordered the first defendant, the vessel, to pay restitution to the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the sum of $5.3 million or its equivalent in naira.
The three principal officers of the vessel, listed as the second, third and fourth defendants, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad and Melethil Insaf Rahman, were further ordered to pay restitution of $100,000 each to the Federal Government.
The fifth to twelfth defendants were ordered to pay restitution of $50,000 each.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that reacting to the judgment, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), said the conviction of the vessel and its crew members sends a resounding message to every drug trafficking network in the world that “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.”
Marwa commended officers and personnel of the Apapa Strategic Command for identifying the cocaine consignment concealed within the cargo of the vessel.
He also expressed appreciation to the Agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for its role in prosecuting the case.
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