Indian sailors, ship fined $6 million in Lagos cocaine case

A Nigerian court has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their vessel over the trafficking of cocaine into the country, imposing fines totaling $6 million, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) said on Thursday.



The Federal High Court in Lagos found the crew of the merchant ship MV Aruna Hulya guilty after authorities discovered 31.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed aboard the vessel at Apapa port earlier this year.



The case forms part of a broader crackdown by Nigerian authorities on drug trafficking through key commercial entry points such as Lagos..



Nigeria has been working to strengthen enforcement against drug trafficking networks, which often use the country as a transit route for illicit substances destined for Europe and other markets.