A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an application filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to the seize a vessel allegedly used to transport 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said in a statement on Saturday that the court also granted the agency’s request to detain the master of the ship, Tanahan Krilerk, 21 foreign crewmembers as well as seven Nigerian suspects.
The ship was interdicted by the Nigerian Navy on October 13. The Navy arrested the ship’s crew made up of 22 Thai nationals following an intelligence report from the United Kingdom Border Force.
Babafemi said the court at its sitting on Friday granted the NDLEA’s request.
He said, “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.
“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.
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