LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigerian authorities have detained 22 crew members of the merchant vessel MV Aruna Hulya after discovering a significant quantity of cocaine aboard the ship at Lagos’s main port, underscoring ongoing challenges in maritime drug trafficking.

The operation took place on January 2, 2026, at the GDNL terminal of Apapa Port, where officers from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) found approximately 31.5 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside the vessel’s cargo area.

The MV Aruna Hulya, which is registered under the Marshall Islands flag, was boarded as part of routine security inspections at the busy West African seaport—a key transit hub for narcotics bound for Europe and other regions.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi confirmed that all 22 crew members, all Indian nationals, were taken into custody. Among those arrested is the ship’s master, Sharma Shashi Bhushan, along with other named crew members connected to the shipment.

Authorities say the discovery highlights the continued use of commercial shipping routes by international drug trafficking networks. Nigeria has seen a series of similar interceptions in recent months, including earlier seizures involving other foreign-crewed vessels at the same port.

The NDLEA’s crackdown also coincided with separate interceptions of other illicit substances at courier facilities in Lagos in late December, where pills and drugs were found hidden in everyday parcels.

Investigations into the case remain ongoing as Nigerian officials work to trace the origin of the drugs and determine the extent of the crew’s involvement in the smuggling operation.