Court convicts 11 Indian sailors over $6m cocaine smuggling

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their vessel, MV Chayanee Naree, for their involvement in trafficking 315 kilograms of cocaine worth six million dollars ($6m) into Nigeria.

The convictions follow a successful prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The Presiding Judge, Justice Daniel Osiagor, sentenced the transnational drug syndicate after a prolonged legal battle.

Alongside the conviction of the crew members, the court imposed a massive fine of $6 million on the vessel and the shipping company, marking a significant victory for Nigeria’s counter-narcotics operations.

The conviction comes after the NDLEA intercepted the ship at the Lagos Port Complex, Apapa.

Acting on credible international intelligence, anti-narcotic operatives conducted a comprehensive search of the vessel, discovering the illicit cargo concealed within the ship’s structures.

The subsequent investigation exposed a well-coordinated international drug ring utilizing commercial maritime vessels to move large shipments of cocaine across continents.

Reacting to the judgment, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retired), commended the prosecution team and the judiciary for the swift and decisive resolution of the case.

He emphasized that the heavy fine and convictions send a strong warning to international maritime organizations and drug cartels that Nigerian waters and ports will not be used as safe havens for illicit drug trafficking.