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 vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, and its crew were taken into custody on Friday after NDLEA operatives discovered 31.5kg of cocaine hidden in hatch 3 of the ship.

A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their vessel for cocaine trafficking, ordering the ship to pay $5.3 million.