A Nigerian court has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel for trafficking cocaine through Lagos, imposing financial penalties of about $6 million as Africa’s most populous country steps up enforcement against narcotics moving through its commercial ports.
The Federal High Court in Lagos found the crew of MV Aruna Hulya guilty after National Drug Law Enforcement Agency operatives discovered 31.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed in Hatch 3 of the ship at the GDNL Terminal in Apapa Port.
The vessel had arrived from the Marshall Islands when authorities searched it on January 2, 2026.
The ruling has renewed attention on the exposure of African ports to international drug-trafficking networks.
Nigeria is one of West Africa’s main maritime gateways, while Lagos handles a significant share of the country’s imports and exports.
