Nigeria seizes 31.5 kg of cocaine, detains 22 Indian crew members at Lagos port

By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - Nigerian authorities have seized more than 31 kilograms (nearly 70 pounds) of cocaine and detained 22 Indian crew members after intercepting a merchant vessel at Nigeria’s largest port, the country’s drug enforcement agency said on Sunday.

The crew of the vessel, identified as MV Aruna Hulya, were taken into custody in connection with the shipment, which originated from the Marshall Islands and was intercepted at Apapa port in Lagos, according to a statement by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The agency said the cocaine weighed 31.5 kilograms and was discovered during a search of the vessel on Friday.

In a separate development, the NDLEA said it also intercepted various quantities of ketamine, ecstasy and tramadol pills concealed in coffee sachets and book parcels destined for Zambia and the United Kingdom between Dec. 24 and 29, just days before the cocaine seizure.

According to the agency, the latest operations resulted in multiple drug busts across several states, including Oyo, Borno, Lagos, Jigawa, and Kwara.