A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, for trafficking 31.5 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria. The court approved a plea bargain and imposed fines and restitution totaling nearly $6 million.
According to Punch, the cocaine was discovered by NDLEA operatives during an inspection of the vessel at Apapa Port in January. Each of the convicted sailors was ordered to pay a N100,000 fine, while the vessel must pay $5.3 million in restitution to the Federal Government.
Three senior officers were also directed to pay $100,000 each, while the remaining crew members must pay $50,000 each. NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the judgment as a strong warning to international drug trafficking networks. :::
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