“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.”
Against the impression that the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MAWUN) created some five days ago saying 13 of its members working at the Apapa seaport, Lagos had been detained by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for offence they know nothing about, the anti-narcotics agency has come out with a counter.
While not denying arrest and detainment of some dockworkers, the NDLEA set the record straight by revealing the number of those it has in its custody to be 12 and that they are being held because of their significant links to the importation of 32.9 kilograms of cocaine worth over N9.5 billion in street value.
The DEFENDER, in a Friday 29 October breaking news, reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had granted an application by the Agency for the interim attachment of a vessel MV Chayanee Naree used to import the 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport and to detain the Master of the ship, Mr. Tanahan Krilerk and 21 foreign crew members as well as the dockworkers arrested in connection with the case.
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, Customs, DSS and the police.
A thorough search of the ship led to the recovery of 30 parcels containing cocaine, which weighed 32.9kg.
The NDLEA’s application before the court 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 cooperation of the suspects in custody, the agency clarified.
The Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MAWUN) had last Tuesday raised an alarm over what it described as the continued detention of 17 dockworkers, who are its members, following their arrest from two vessels one of which had 32.9 kg of cocaine on board.
President-General of MAWUN, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, said in a statement issued in Lagos that the vessels berthed at Greenview Development Nigeria Ltd (GDNL), a terminal inside Apapa Port, Lagos.
Adeyanju stated that the union was informed of the arrest and continued detention of the 13 dockworkers and crew by the NDLEA since October 13 and demanded their immediate release.
He added that the workers were reportedly arrested while on duty on board MV Cha Yaree Naree, which berthed at the GDNL terminal and on which narcotics were said to have been found, arguing that there was no information that the drugs were found on the workers.
The NDLEA, in a statement on Saturday 13 November, said its clarification became necessary following claims by the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (WAWUN) that some of its members are being detained unlawfully by the Agency.
It explained that 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 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 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,” it said.
