A Federal High Court in Lagos has delivered a stunning verdict in a major drug trafficking case, convicting 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel after 31.5 kilograms of cocaine were discovered aboard the ship at Apapa Port.
The judgment comes barely six months after operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) intercepted the vessel and uncovered the illegal substance during an operation at one of Nigeria’s busiest seaports.
The case has attracted significant attention due to the large number of foreign nationals involved and the massive financial penalties imposed. As a result, fines and restitution payments totaling about $6 million have been ordered against the convicted sailors and the vessel.
The 11 Indian sailors convicted for cocaine trafficking were arrested alongside the merchant vessel identified as MV Aruna Hulya. According to investigators, the cocaine was found hidden in hatch three of the vessel at the GDNL terminal in Apapa, Lagos, on January 2, 2026.
Following the discovery, the NDLEA took the crew members and the ship into custody. Subsequently, legal proceedings were initiated before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
The defendants included the vessel’s master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and ten other crew members. They were arraigned on charges linked to the importation and possession of the illicit drug.
Meanwhile, after several months of court proceedings, both the prosecution and defense submitted plea bargain agreements for consideration. The court later reviewed the agreements before delivering its final judgment.
According to the ruling, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act. Furthermore, each defendant was directed to pay a statutory penalty of ₦100,000.
However, the financial consequences did not end there.
The court also ordered MV Aruna Hulya, listed as the first defendant, to pay restitution of $5.3 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In addition, three senior officers of the vessel were directed to pay $100,000 each.
The officers affected are Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, and Melethil Insaf Rahman.
Moreover, the remaining crew members were ordered to pay restitution of $50,000 each.
The judgment marks another major victory for the NDLEA in its ongoing battle against international drug trafficking networks.
In addition, the case highlight the importance of intelligence-led operations at Nigerian ports, where drug seizures have increased in recent years.
Therefore, authorities are expected to continue strengthening surveillance systems and inspections to prevent similar incidents.
