In a major embarrassment for India, a Federal High Court in Lagos, Nigeria has convicted 11 Indian sailors and their merchant vessel MV Aruna Hulya for smuggling 31.5 kg of cocaine concealed in the ship’s Hatch 3.  The sailors, including Captain Sharma Shashi Bhushan and 10 others, were arrested on January 2, 2026, by Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) after the vessel arrived at Apapa Seaport.   

The court ordered the vessel to pay $5.3 million in restitution to the Nigerian government, while the three principal officers were directed to pay $100,000 each and the remaining crew $50,000 each, along with additional fines.  This latest conviction of Indian nationals abroad once again highlights the deep involvement of Indian crews and commercial vessels in international drug trafficking networks.

While the Indian establishment frequently tries to portray Pakistan as the source of all problems, the reality is that India itself has emerged as a significant transit and facilitation hub for drugs, including cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and cannabis.  India’s own Narcotics Control Bureau seized over 1,33,965 kg of narcotic drugs in 2025 alone, valued at nearly Rs 2,000 crore. Major seizures, including the record heroin haul at Mundra Port, have repeatedly exposed serious loopholes in India’s port security and maritime oversight. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)