Of Drugs And Maritime Industry

A recent media report claimed that some foreign companies were on the verge of blacklisting Nigeria from receiving shipping services on account of the incessant arrest of vessels and detention of crew members for drug-related offences. Expectedly, maritime industry watchers are not amused by this development, which they consider a threat to the marine sector and the economy if not checked.

The Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria, MASPAN, raised the alarm that hundreds of foreign seafarers are languishing in jail houses across Nigeria or being prosecuted for offences they know nothing about.

The President of MASPAN, Emmanuel Maiguwa, said that drug traffickers have found that ships are the only means to move large quantities of drugs and other narcotics across the world; hence, most times, these vessels are loaded with drugs without the knowledge of the crew.

Maiguwa warned that if this trend is not urgently addressed, more vessels will begin to avoid Nigeria. For those that decide to sail to the country, the drug-related insurance on such vessels will be far more than the war risk insurance Nigeria is currently struggling with.

It is on record that 90 per cent of international trade is done via the sea through the use of ships, and Nigeria could earn over $9.1 billion annually from freights, according to estimates by the Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC),

However, the commercial shipping industry has long been plagued by illicit drug smuggling operations despite efforts to curb the illicit trade, including a proposed death sentence by the National Assembly.

This newspaper recalls that in 2023, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in cooperation with the National Institute for Security Studies, launched the report on Organised Crime in Nigeria: A Threat Assessment, which detailed how transnational organised crime groups operating in Nigeria and hubs across different countries have evolved and grown over the past decades

According to the report, Nigeria is a base, transit and destination country for organised crime enabled by its porous borders and strategic location along global shipping routes.

It is important to note that organised crime syndicates target merchant ships by concealing drugs on board, within the cargo, or by attaching drug-filled containers to the underwater hull, despite efforts by governments and international bodies to curb it.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) secured the conviction of 2,224 persons, comprising 1,985 males and 239 females, following the arrests of 8,561 drug traffickers between January and August 2023.

This paper believes that organised crime is one of the core drivers of insecurity in Nigeria, which has negatively impacted stability, democratic governance, and the rule of law. The illicit drug trade via maritime channels poses severe threats, not only in terms of drug proliferation but also through its links to organised crime, terrorism, and human trafficking.

Addressing these challenges requires a coordinated international response, but the bulk of the response currently stops at the judiciary table.  We also recall that early this year in March, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) said corruption is prevalent in the Nigerian judiciary.

Speaking on a 2019 survey conducted by the UNODC and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), a representative of the UNODC, Melissa Omene, said the survey found that 20 percent of those who had contact with the Nigerian judiciary were confronted with a request for the payment of a bribe.

On this page, we have consistently advocated for a review of the country’s judicial system, especially regarding the judicious handling and dispensing of cases as early as possible in accordance with our constitution to promote the rule of law.

Unfortunately, the Nigerian Judiciary in the 21st Century cannot stand up to scrutiny in the area of quick and timely disposition of cases, and the resultant delay has, in many cases, led to miscarriage of justice.

According to maritime law, the ship and crew are liable if drugs are found on the vessel. However, common sense is expected to prevail in handling such cases when they occur, with cases of vessel arrest and detention being treated expeditiously so that the vessel can continue in business with her crew while the trial is ongoing. Also, ship owners should be well advised to respect the law and educate their crew against turning their vessels over to criminals for personal gains

We urge the Nigeria Police, Customs, Immigration, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy to intensify their operations in executing their mandates to resolve the legal aspects of this matter before they become contentious.

Furthermore, it is our opinion that the challenge of drug trafficking should be treated with the seriousness it deserves. To this extent, we call on the federal government to collaborate with neighbouring countries in the Sahel region and the international community to take urgent, coordinated, and comprehensive action towards dismantling drug trafficking networks. This must be done urgently.