In another major victory for Nigeria’s anti-narcotics campaign, a Federal High Court in Lagos has on Thursday, June 11, convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, over a 31.5-kilogram cocaine shipment. The swift conviction comes barely six months after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the illicit cargo at the Apapa Seaport. The vessel and its crew, who smuggled the drugs into Nigeria from the Marshall Islands, were slapped with a staggering $6 million fine.
NDLEA Spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed the development in a statement on Thursday, June 11, noting that the landmark conviction follows the dramatic interception of the vessel on Friday, January 2, 2026. Acting on intelligence, NDLEA operatives stormed the MV Aruna Hulya at the GDNL Terminal in the Apapa Port, discovering the 31.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside hatch 3 of the ship before taking the Indian crew into custody.
The Vessel’s Master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, along with 10 other crew members, were subsequently arraigned on a two-count charge under suit number FHC/L/56C/2026 before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The co-defendants include 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.
Following months of intense trial, the presiding judge on Thursday, June 11, 2026, delivered a final ruling based on plea bargain terms filed by both the prosecution and defense. Consequently, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 Naira each, satisfying the statutory penalty for the offense.
Additionally, the first defendant—the vessel itself was ordered to pay a massive $5.3 million restitution fee (or its Naira equivalent) to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore, the vessel’s three principal officers—the second, third, and fourth defendants—were ordered to pay $100,000 each in restitution to the Federal Government. The convicted officers are Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, and Melethil Insaf Rahman. Meanwhile, the remaining crew members—the fifth to twelfth defendants—must each pay $50,000 in restitution.
Reacting to the landmark judgment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), declared that the conviction of the vessel and its crew sends a resounding message to global drug trafficking networks.
“Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substance.”
According to him, “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 the officers of the NDLEA’s Apapa Strategic Command for their exceptional vigilance in intercepting the illicit cargo. He praised their ability to uncover the cocaine consignment, which had been buried deep within the hull of the massive commodity vessel.
He commended the Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their outstanding diligence in securing the convictions.
