Crew of Cargo Ship Fined for Cocaine Smuggling in Nigeria

On May 15, a Nigerian court in Lagos found the crew of the Chayanee Naree, a Singapore-flagged bulk carrier, guilty of trafficking approximately 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into the country.

The verdict followed a plea agreement made on April 8 between the crew and Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The crew had initially pleaded not guilty and maintained that stance for over three years before accepting the deal.

The Chayanee Naree was seized on October 13, 2021, after docking at the Apapa port in Lagos following its voyage from Brazil. Based on intelligence reports and suspicious behavior, the Nigerian Navy and NDLEA acted jointly to intercept and search the vessel.

The NDLEA charged the crew with offenses including unlawful importation of cocaine, conspiracy, and illegal transport. The formal arraignment occurred in February 2022.

As part of the judgment, the vessel was ordered to pay a $4 million fine. Additionally, the captain, first master, and chief officer were each fined $50,000, while seven other crew members received penalties of $30,000 each. The court also ordered ten Thai crew members to pay restitution of N100,000 each.

The judge declared that all detained foreign crew members would be allowed to return home upon payment of their respective fines. However, six Nigerian nationals who were part of the crew were excluded from the plea deal and are still facing legal proceedings.