Less than six months after their arrest by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for importing 31.5 kilograms of cocaine from the Marshall Islands into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport in Lagos, 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, have been convicted and fined a total of six million US dollars ($6 million) by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
The NDLEA took custody of the Indian crew members and their vessel following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine in hatch 3 of the ship by NDLEA operatives at the GDNL terminal, Apapa port, Lagos, on Friday, January 2, 2026.
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—were arraigned on two counts in suit number FHC/L/56C/2026 before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
After months of proceedings, the trial judge delivered his ruling on plea bargain terms filed by the prosecution and defense on Thursday, June 11, 2026. As a result, all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced to pay a fine of 100,000 Naira each, which is the penalty for the offense under the Act. In addition, the vessel, as the first defendant, is to pay restitution of $5,300,000 or its Naira equivalent to the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The three principal officers—the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th defendants: Sharma Shashi Bhushan, Nilesh Mukuno Bhalerad, and Melethil Insaf Rahman—are also to pay restitution of $100,000 each. The other crew members, defendants 5 to 12, are to pay restitution of $50,000 each.
Reacting to the landmark judgment, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) stated that the conviction of the vessel and its crew sends a strong message to drug trafficking networks worldwide that “Nigeria is no longer a safe corridor for cocaine or any other illicit substances.”
According to him, “This judgment is the third of its kind recently, following convictions of foreign nationals and vessels on similar charges. These are not coincidences; they are the result of deliberate, intelligence-led operations by our officers who remain vigilant at every port of entry.
“The NDLEA will not relent. Whether by air, land, or sea; whether Nigerian or foreign, if you attempt to use our waters as a narcotics highway, you will face the full weight of Nigerian law. Our courts have spoken, and we will continue to give them reason to do so. The war against drug trafficking is one we are winning, and we intend to keep it that way.”
He commended the officers and men of the Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance in uncovering the cocaine buried deep within the cargo of a large commodity vessel. He also appreciated the Agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for their diligence in prosecuting the case.
