00:00Federal High Court sitting in Lagos State, Nigeria, has convicted 10 Thailand nationals who were the sailors of a ship that smuggled 32.9 kg quantities of cocaine from Brazil in the South America continent into the West Africa country, Nigeria through a Papa seaport in Lagos State.
00:18The court ruled that the owner of the ship or vessel named MV Chilinari should pay the sum of $4 million or its naira equivalent to the federal government of Nigeria as punishment for transporting 32.9 kg cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria.
00:35Details of the report as presented by the Public Relations Unit of the National Drug Law and Enforcement Agency, NDLEA reads verbatim below.
00:45After over three years of diligent prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, a federal high court in Lagos presided over by Justice Daniel Osiagor has convicted 10 Thai sailors and their vessel named MV Chilinari for trafficking 32.9 kg of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport, Lagos.
01:09The convicted sailors who are all nationals of Thailand include, Krillinari, Khrilik Tanakin, Bunlet Hansungan, Jakaran Buncharowin, Thamurong Putulek, Warapat Paupinta, Marat Kantapram, Warapat Sombuning, Erkut Amstree, Panyudid Jaisuk and Amrat Thawong.
01:28They were first arraigned before the court along with nine Nigerian suspects by NDLEA in February 2022 on offences bordering on conspiracy and unlawful transportation of the illicit drug consignment from Brazil to Nigeria.
01:43The vessel, the convicted sailors and the nine Nigerians were arrested on the 13th of October 2021 at the Apapa port in Lagos.
02:09They were all subsequently charged to court over the illegal acts which NDLEA prosecutors argued contravene sections 11a, 11b and 14b of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N-13 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and punishable under the same act.
02:32The convicted sailors had initially made a no-case submission which was dismissed following submissions by the prosecution that a prima facie case had been established against the vessel and its crew members.
02:44As a result, the trial judge ordered the convicted Thai sailors and others to open the defense on the charges against them.
02:52Following the court ruling, the convicted sailors opted for a plea bargain agreement with the NDLEA and as a result,
02:59Justice Osiagor delivered his ruling at the resumed hearing of the matter on Thursday, 15 May 2025.
03:07Among other penalties, the judge convicted the vessel MV Chai Lidari for unlawful transportation of 32.9 kg of cocaine into Nigeria and ordered to pay a fine of $4 million or its naira equivalent.
03:20The second, two, 11th defendants were convicted under Section 25 of the NDLEA Act for permitting the use of the vessel for the unlawful transportation of 32.9 kg of cocaine,
03:34while the second, third and fourth defendants were ordered to pay 100,000 nairas each as punishment for the offense and in addition restitution in the sum of $50,000 USD each or its equivalent in naira to the federal government of Nigeria.
03:49The fifth, two, 11th defendants are to pay 100,000 nairas each and restitution in the sum of $30,000, bringing the total amount payable to $4,360,000 USD, $4,360,000.00.
04:08Justice Osiagor thereafter adjourned the trial of the nine Nigerian suspects to June 25.
04:15While the prosecution was led by the agency's Director of Prosecution and Legal Services, DCGN Teresa Asuko, supported by A.
04:25Adebayo and Paula Wobugi, the defense team was led by the trio of Messis Babajide Koku, Femia Toyobi and Tunde Adeji Yigbe, all.
04:34Senior Advocates of Nigeria, San, in his reaction, Chairman, Chief Executive of NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Baba Mawa, retired,
04:46said the court ruling was a strong message to the international drug cartel and their local collaborators that Nigeria will never be a safe hub for illicit drug trafficking.
04:54He commended the NDLEA prosecution team and officers of the APAPA Strategic Command involved in the arrest, seizure and investigation of the shipment for the diligence and resilience in following the case to a logical conclusion.
05:09He charged them not to relent in pursuing the other part of the case still pending, Femi Baba Femi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA stated on Thursday, 15 May 2025.
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