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NDLEA Busts Major Cocaine Smuggling Operation, Arrests 22 Crew Members at Apapa Port
NDLEA Busts Major Cocaine Smuggling Operation, Arrests 22 Crew Members at Apapa Port
Agency seizes 31.5kg of cocaine aboard Marshall Islands-flagged vessel
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 22 crew members of the vessel MV Aruna Hulya following the seizure of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine at the Apapa Port in Lagos.
The illicit substance was discovered concealed in hatch three of the Marshall Islands-flagged ship during a routine inspection by anti-narcotics operatives at the nation’s busiest seaport.
The ship’s master, Captain Sharma Shashi Bhushan, is among the 22 crew members currently in NDLEA custody as investigations continue into the suspected cocaine smuggling operation.
The seizure represents a major breakthrough in Nigeria’s ongoing battle against international drug trafficking through its maritime gateways.
In a separate but related operation, NDLEA operatives in Borno State dismantled a drug supply chain, leading to the arrest of two suspected suppliers and the confiscation of substantial quantities of illicit drugs.
The twin operations underscore the agency’s intensified efforts to combat narcotics trafficking across Nigeria’s maritime and land borders.
The NDLEA has not yet disclosed the estimated street value of the seized cocaine or provided details on the vessel’s intended destination and cargo manifest.
Further investigations are ongoing to determine the source and intended recipients of the contraband, as well as the potential involvement of other members of the smuggling network.