Cocaine Smuggling: Court Orders Forfeiture Of Vessel To FG

 Justice Abimbola Awogboro of a Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of a vessel, MV Chayaneenre, to the Federal Government, for allegedly being used to smuggle 32.9kg of cocaine into the country.

The judge also ordered the detention of 29 crew members of the vessel. The crew members comprised of 21Thailand nationals and seven Nigerians.
The crew members ordered to be detained by the court alongside the vessel Master, Tanahan Krilerk, are Hansoongnern Mr. Boonlert; Paopinta Mr. Worrapat; Somboonying Mr. Weerapart; Kantaprom Mr. Marut; Amsri Mr. Ukrit; Booncharoen Mr. Jakkarn; Pala Mr. Theerayut; Autchapong Mr. Wuttipon; Mauhuittanpradit Mr. Suwanchai; Langkapin Mr. Bularit; Petto Mr. Uthen; Truwan Mr. Somiit; Chittrong Mr. Noppon; Jaisuk Mr. Panudet; Putitiek Mr. Thamimarong; Thaworn Mr. Amnaet; Thanatlueal Mr. Worakan; Seedawong Mr. Sirisak; Timiasan Mr. Prayong Nonthing; Thammarat; Chaiyarin Mr. Praditsak; all Thailand nationals. Others are: Kayode Buletiri; Adekunle Osamo; Ogunfadeke Gbenga; Cosmos Anah; Ekundayo Nurudeen; Ilesanmi Ayo and Stephen Osabeye, who are Nigerians. The court orders were sequel to the granting of an ex-parte motion filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through its Director of Legal Services, J. N. Sunday.

The orders, according to Justice Awogboro, will subsist till November 25, 2021, when the NDLEA is expected to come up with a report of its investigation.
In urging the court to make the order in the suit marked FHC/L/ CS/1518/2021, the NDLEA’s lawyer told the judge that the application was brought pursuant to Sections 3(1)(a) (c), 32(c), 33, 34, 36 and 41(b)(iii) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 LFN 2004; Sections 44(2)(k), 35(1)(c) and 6(6)(b) of the Constitution and under the Inherent jurisdiction of the court. The lawyer alleged that the Vessel, MV Chayaneenre, was used as an instrument to unlawfully transport and import 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria on the 13th October 2021 at Apapa Port, Lagos.

He added that the NDLEA had seized the illicit drug and is still investigating the case in conjunction with Interpol and other foreign collaborators.