A Federal High Court in Lagos convicts 11 Indian sailors, including the master of the vessel MV Aruna Hulya, over cocaine importation in Nigeria. Multiple outlets report that the case involves 31.5 kilograms of cocaine. The sailors are convicted under Nigeria’s NDLEA Act, following legal proceedings that include a plea bargain between the prosecution and the defence, according to Premium Times.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arrested the vessel and crew. The court imposes financial penalties on the crew and the ship. Reported figures vary slightly by outlet: the vessel is fined $5.3 million (Times of India and The Hindu), while other reporting says the overall penalty and restitution imposed is nearly $6 million (Premium Times and Daily Post Nigeria). Despite the difference in reported totals, all accounts describe fines and restitution tied to the convicted cocaine trafficking charges.
The court’s rulings therefore focus on both criminal responsibility of the sailors and financial consequences for the vessel involved in the alleged cocaine importation.
