In a major crackdown on transnational drug trafficking, Nigeria's National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 22 Indian crew members of a merchant vessel, MV Aruna Hulya, following the discovery of 31.5 kilograms of cocaine on board. The vessel, which originated from the Marshall Islands, was intercepted at the GDNL terminal of Apapa Port in Lagos on Friday, January 2, 2026.
The NDLEA's Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, released a statement on Sunday, January 4, 2026, detailing the operation. According to the statement, the cocaine was found concealed in hatch three of the ship. The arrested crew members include the ship's master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, and 21 other crew members. The other detained crew members are Bharati Manoj Kumar, Bhalerao Nilesh Mukund, Nadar Anthony Macson David, Kolusu Srinivasa Rao, Sagar Gaurav, Francis Anto Beemas Nester, Jagdeep Singh, Jai Parkash, Prabhukhan Singh, Nevage Sandesh Suresh, Pandey Prashant, Nittu Anand, Akash Babu, Dasari Raju, Reddy Nandika Sanjeeba, Rana Nivesh, Melethil Insaf Rahman, Barla Chantanya Krishna, Ghosh Arijit, Mondal Raihan, and Gangwar Shiv Om. All those apprehended have been transferred to the NDLEA's State Criminal Investigation Department in Lagos for further investigation.
In separate operations, the NDLEA has also intercepted large quantities of other illicit drugs. These include ketamine, ecstasy, and tramadol pills concealed within coffee sachets and book parcels destined for Zambia and the United Kingdom. The seizures were made at a courier company in Lagos on December 24 and 29, 2025.
Furthermore, in Ibadan, Oyo State, NDLEA officers arrested Fatima Ilori, a 65-year-old female drug kingpin known as "Mama Kerosine," along with Olusanya Abosede, 35. This arrest followed the seizure of 238.4 kilograms of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis, linked to Ilori. The agency stated that Ilori had been on their wanted list for a long time.
The NDLEA has also disrupted drug supply chains in Borno State, arresting two suppliers and seizing large consignments of illicit substances. Isa Mohammed, 26, was caught with 9,150 ampoules of Tramadol injection, while Musa Samaila, 30, was nabbed with 34,000 capsules of Tramadol at Biu market. Other operations included the recovery of not less than 400kg of skunk along with a van in Lagos on New Year's Day, and the arrest of Bilya Ibrahim, 39, in Hadejia, Jigawa State, while transporting 260 compressed blocks of skunk weighing 140.8kg.
Babafemi noted that drug traffickers are becoming increasingly desperate, concealing illicit substances in everyday items; however, the NDLEA is staying ahead through intelligence and diligent operations. The NDLEA continues its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitization campaigns in schools and communities across the country.
