N9.6bn Cocaine Burst: Captain, Crew, Dockworkers to Remain in Detention Indefinitely Until NDLEA Completes Investigation
one of the vessels being investigated...
By Our Reporter
The captain, crew and dockworkers involved in the ship which came with a consignment of 32.9mt of cocaine to Apapa port worth a market value of N9.6bn will remain in detention indefinitely until the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) completes its investigation.
A source told SHIPPING DAY that this would be the only way to ensure that ships destined for Nigeria with bulk consignments are prevented from coming with dangerous drugs under concealment.
The source close to the NDLEA who pleaded anonymity said, “when the captain, his crew and ship are detained for a long time, the losses suffered will make any of them involved not to go into such deal in future”.
The source also added that this will equally be a signal to collaborators involved in the drug deal, including the importers who are now into hiding.
The operatives, it was further gathered are also searching another ship for a possible consignment of hard drugs.
Already, the NDLEA Director, Media, and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi said in a statement that a Federal High Court in Lagos had granted an application empowering the agency for an interim attachment of the vessel, MV Chayanee Naree over the consignment.
The Court had also granted the agency the power to detain the Master of the ship, Tanahan Krilerk, and 21 foreign crew members and other dockworkers connected to the case.
The NDLEA statement earlier issue don the matter reads, “The anti-narcotic agency had on October 13 intercepted the ship at the Apapa seaport following intelligence from international partners and support from other security forces such as the Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Customs Service, DSS, and the police. A thorough search of the ship led to the recovery of 30 parcels containing cocaine, which weighed 32.9kg.
“The application in suit no: FHC/L/CS/1518/2021, which was filed by the agency’s Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, Joseph Nbone Sunday on Thursday 28th October was granted the following day Friday, 29th October by Hon. Justice A.O. Awogboro. An application to renew the remand order was also filed on Friday, 12th November because of the volume of evidence coming out from the cooperation of the suspects in custody.”
“Of the total number of 18 dockworkers initially being interviewed by operatives, six of them with no sufficient evidence linking them to the crime had been released while 12 others with significant links are cooperating with the ongoing investigation. In line with the intelligence available to the agency, there is a syndicate of dockworkers, crew members with apparent international conspirators who work in synergy to traffic in the illicit substances. While the substances are concealed in the shipment from the originating port, the dockworkers assist to pick up the illicit consignment for onward delivery to the Nigerian drug barons.
“In the case of a criminal investigation of this magnitude, it is lawful and expedient to investigate those within the purview of the agency’s reasonable suspicion and those who do not have any serious involvement are let go. “Already, two dockworkers are now on the run, after absconding from their place of work, since the beginning of the investigation. For the avoidance of doubt, all the agency’s actions are guided by international best practices and in line with the Global Maritime Standard Operational Procedure on arrest, seizure, and detention of vessels and crew members.”
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