LAGOS: Nigeria’s Drug Law Enforcement Agency has seized more than 31 kilograms of cocaine from a commercial vessel at Lagos’ main port and arrested 22 Indian crew members, including the ship’s master.
According to officials, the operation was carried out on Sunday during a search of the cargo ship MV Arwana Holiya at Lagos’ central port. The vessel had departed from the Marshall Islands. During the inspection, authorities recovered approximately 31.5 kilograms of cocaine concealed on board.
All 22 crew members are Indian nationals. Among those arrested is the ship’s master, identified as Sharma Shashi Bhushan. While the ship’s master has been taken into custody, the remaining 21 crew members have been transferred to the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department for further questioning.
Indian media reported that the seizure took place on January 2, 2026, as part of heightened counter-narcotics operations at Nigerian ports.
In a separate statement, the Drug Law Enforcement Agency said it had also made several other major drug seizures in recent weeks.
In December 2025, authorities intercepted consignments of ketamine, ecstasy, and tramadol tablets from a courier company in Lagos that were being shipped to Zambia and the United Kingdom.
In November, the agency arrested 20 Filipino sailors who were allegedly attempting to smuggle at least 20 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil.
