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Seafarers punished for drug smuggling
The NDLEA took into custody the Indian crew members and the 'Aruna Hulya', following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine in hatch 3 of the ship by NDLEA operatives at the GDNL terminal, Apapa port in Lagos on Jan 2. 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 – eventually arraigned on two counts charge in suit number After months before the court, the trial judge on June 11 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 N100,000 each which is the penalty for the offence under the Act. In addition, the first defendant, which is the vessel, is to pay restitution to the federal government in the sum of $5,300,000 or its equivalent in naira. The three principal officers of the vessel who are the second, third, and fourth defendants (Bhushan, Bhalerad, and Rahman) are also to pay $100,000 each, while other crew members, the fifth to 12th defendants, are to pay their restitution in the sum of $50,000. Reacting to the judgement, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Marwa (rtd), said that the judgement was the third of its kind in recent times, following the convictions of foreign nationals and vessels on similar charges and the direct result of deliberate, intelligence-led operations by our officers who remain vigilant at every port of entry. The ship remained moored in the Bay of Benim in pos. 06° 21' N 003° 20' E.
22 crew members arrested after drug seizure
Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 22 Indian crew members of the 'Aruna Huya' after seizing 31.5 kg of cocaine at Lagos’ main seaport on Jan 2, 2026. The narcotics were recovered during a search of the vessel, which had arrived on Dec 26, 2025, and remained stationary in port as of Jan 6. The cocaine was found concealed in Hatch 3 of the vessel. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), arrested the captain and 21 sailors. They have been taken in for questioning, and an investigation to determine the origin of the drugs was underway.
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