Lagos: Twenty-two Indian seamen have been arrested by drug enforcement agency officials in Lagos, Nigeria, on charges of attempting to smuggle cocaine. Authorities have claimed that 31.5 kg of cocaine was seized from them.
The sailors were part of the crew of MV Aruna Hulya, a bulk carrier that flies a Marshall Island flag. The ship left Santos in Brazil on November 28, 2025 and reached Lagos on December 26.
The seizure was made on January 2 on board the vessel, as reported by ABP Live News. Femi Babafemi, spokesperson for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency of Nigeria has said in a statement that the operation was carried out at the Lagos port, Nigeria’s busiest maritime gateway and all 22 Indian nationals on board were taken into custody for questioning as investigations continue.
Nigeria has long been regarded as a major transit and production hub for narcotics destined for Europe and other parts of Africa.
In November last year, the NDLEA said it had arrested 20 Filipino sailors who were allegedly attempting to ferry at least 20 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil to the same Lagos port.
Earlier in the month, the agency also said it was working with US and British anti-drug agencies to investigate a cartel linked to the importation of nearly 1,000 kilogrammes of cocaine discovered in a container at the Lagos port.
