Nigeria arrests 22 Indian ship crew members in cocaine seizure

Nigeria arrests 22 Indian ship crew members in cocaine seizure
Ajaypal Choudhary Jan 04, 2026 https://www.wionews.com/world/nigeria-arrests-22-indian-ship-crew-member...

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Nigeria's drug enforcement agency Sunday (Jan 04) said it had arrested 22 Indian crew members of a merchant ship after 31.5 kilogrammes of cocaine was found on the vessel at Lagos's main port.

The seizure was made on January 2 aboard MV Aruna Hulya, which "originated from the Marshall Islands," Femi Babafemi, spokesman for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), said in a statement.

Nigeria has long been considered a trafficking and production hub for drugs bound for Europe and other African countries.

The agency said in November that it arrested 20 Filipino sailors caught ferrying at least 20 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil to the same port.

Earlier that month, NDLEA said it was working with US and British anti-drug agencies to investigate a cartel behind the importation of 1,000 kilograms of cocaine discovered in a container at a Lagos port.