TheCable

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) says a federal high court in Lagos has granted the agency’s application for the seizure of a vessel allegedly used to import cocaine into Nigeria.

Femi Babafemi, NDLEA spokesman, in a statement on Saturday, said the court also granted the agency’s request to detain Tanahan Krilerk, the master of the ship, 21 foreign crewmembers as well as seven Nigerian suspects.

TheCable had reported that the Nigerian Navy, on October 13, arrested the seafarers — made up of 22 Thai nationals — following an intelligence report from the United Kingdom border force.

Buba Marwa, NDLEA chairman, had on October 26 directed that an application be filed in court to confiscate the ship and detain the suspects for two weeks, pending the conclusion of investigation and filing of criminal charges.

According to Babafemi, the court at its sitting on Friday granted the NDLEA’s request.

“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,” the statement reads. 

“According to the court ruling, an order of interim attachment is hereby granted the federal government of Nigeria over the vessel MV Chayanee Naree used as an instrumentality of unlawful transportation and importation of 32.9 kilograms of cocaine seized by the applicant aboard the vessel on 13th October 2021 at Apapa port pending investigation and filing of the charge and prosecution.

“An order of remand is hereby further granted to the applicant to remand the master of the Vessel, Mr. Tanahan Krilerk, and 21 other crew members of the said Vessel and 7 other persons arrested in connection with the case for a period of fourteen days pending investigation and or filing of a criminal charge.”

Babafemi added that the case has been adjourned till November 25.