By IBIRONKE ARIYO

The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, has warned international drug trafficking syndicates that Nigeria was no longer a safe corridor for cocaine and other illicit substances.

This came following the conviction of 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, for trafficking 31.5 kilograms of cocaine.

A statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi on Thursday in Abuja said that Marwa gave the warning after a Federal High Court in Lagos convicted the vessel and its crew members.

He said that the court ordered them to pay a total of about $6 million dollars in fines and restitution for importing the illicit consignment from the Marshall Islands into Nigeria through the Apapa Seaport, Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Indian crew members and the vessel were arrested by NDLEA operatives after 31.5 kilograms of cocaine was discovered in Hatch Three of the ship at the GDNL Terminal, Apapa Port, on Jan. 2.

NAN reports that the defendants were arraigned on a two-count charge in suit number FHC/L/56C/2026 before Justice Joseph Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court, Lagos.

The defendants are the Master of the vessel, Sharma Bhushan; Bharati Kumar; Nevage Suresh; Pandey Prashant; Nuttu Anand; Akash Babu; Nilesh Mukuno; Melethil Rahman; Barla Krishna; Prabhasukhan Singu; and Jai Parkash.

According to Marwa, the court delivered its judgment on Thursday based on plea bargain terms filed by the prosecution and defence.

He said all 12 defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act and sentenced to pay a fine of N100,000 each, being the statutory penalty prescribed for the offence.

He said the court further ordered the first defendant, MV Aruna Hulya, to pay restitution of $5.3 million to the Federal Republic of Nigeria or its equivalent in naira.

According to him, three principal officers of the vessel, namely Sharma Bhushan, Nilesh Bhalerad and Melethil Rahman, were also ordered to pay restitution of $100,000 dollars each.

He added that the remaining crew members, listed as the fifth to twelfth defendants, were directed to pay restitution of 50,000 dollars each.

Reacting, Marwa described the conviction as a landmark victory in the fight against transnational drug trafficking and a strong message to criminal networks seeking to use Nigeria as a transit route for narcotics.

“This judgment is the third of its kind in recent times, following the convictions of foreign nationals and vessels on similar charges.

“Let it be known that these are not coincidences; they are the direct result of deliberate, intelligence-led operations by our officers who remain vigilant at every port of entry,” he said.

Marwa reiterated the agency’s determination to sustain the momentum against drug trafficking through the nation’s air, land and maritime borders.

“The NDLEA will not relent.

“Whether you come by air, land or sea; whether you are a Nigerian or a foreign national, 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 speak. The war against drug trafficking is one we are winning and we intend to keep it that way,” he said.

The NDLEA boss commended officers and personnel of the agency’s Apapa Strategic Command for their vigilance in detecting the cocaine consignment concealed deep within the cargo of the massive commodity vessel.

He also expressed appreciation to the agency’s Directorate of Prosecution and Legal Services for its diligence and professionalism in prosecuting the case and securing the conviction. (NAN)

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