A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors alongside their vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, over the illegal importation of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria, imposing fines and restitution estimated at about $6 million.
The case stemmed from a major drug interception by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency at the Apapa Port in Lagos, where the vessel was searched and the illicit substance discovered.
The seizure took place on January 2, 2026, at the GDNL terminal in Apapa, during which officers found 31.5kg of cocaine concealed inside Hatch 3 of the ship. The vessel had reportedly sailed into Nigeria from the Marshall Islands before the discovery.
Following the operation, the ship’s captain, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 10 crew members were charged before Justice Joseph Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos in suit number FHC/L/56C/2026.
The convicted crew 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.
According to a statement released on Thursday, June 11, by NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the court adopted a plea bargain arrangement reached by both the prosecution and defence, leading to the conviction of all defendants under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act.
“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 100,000 Naira each which is the penalty for the offence under the Act.
READ ALSO: PHOTOS: NDLEA Arrests Indian Businessman, Three Nigerians Over N3.9bn Tramadol at Lagos Airport
“In addition, 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 judge was quoted as saying.
Each of the 12 defendants was ordered to pay a ₦100,000 fine.
The court further directed that MV Aruna Hulya pay $5.3 million in restitution to the Nigerian government.
Additionally, three senior officers of the vessel—Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad and Melethil Insaf Rahman—were ordered to pay $100,000 each, while the remaining crew members were fined $50,000 each.
Reacting to the judgment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the ruling as a clear warning to international drug trafficking networks.
He said the conviction reflected the agency’s sustained intelligence-led operations and vigilance at Nigeria’s ports.
Marwa reiterated that Nigeria would not allow its maritime borders to be used for drug trafficking, pledging continued enforcement against offenders regardless of nationality.
He also commended NDLEA officers at the Apapa Strategic Command for detecting the concealed shipment, as well as the agency’s legal team for securing the conviction in court.