A Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted and sentenced the vessel MV Chayanee Naree and 10 sailors who are citizens of Thailand for the unlawful importation of 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.
The court also gave them the option of fines of $4m, $30,000, $50,000 and N100,000 as restitution.
Their conviction followed a plea bargain agreement reached between the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and the convicts.
The convicts are: Krilerk Tanakhan; Boonlert Hansoongnern; Jakkarin Booncharoen; Thammarong Put-tlek; Worrapat Paopinta; Marut Kantaprom; Werapat Somboonying; Urkit Amsri; Panudet Jaisuk and Amrat Thawom.
The vessel and the convicted sailors were first arraigned before the court alongside nine Nigerians, on the alleged offences in February 2022, by the NDLEA.
The Nigerians are: Samuel Messiah; Ishaya Maisamari; Ilesanmi Ayo Abbey; Osabeye Stephen; Gbenga Ogunfadeke; Kayode Buletiri; Rilwan Omotosho Liasu; Saidi Sule Alani and Jamiu Adewale Yusuf.
According to the NDLEA, they contravened Sections 11 (b), 11(a) and 14 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and punishable under the same Act.
The convicted Thais and their Nigerian alleged co-conspirators were accused of committing the acts alongside the trio of Kehinde Enoch, Ayo Joseph and one Tunde, all said to be at large.
Under the terms of the agreement, the vessel is to pay a fine of $4m in lieu of imprisonment, while seven of the Thai crew members are each to pay $30,000.
The judge ordered the three captains of the vessel, namely: Krilerk Tanakhan; Boonlert Hansoongnern; Jakkarin Booncharoen, to pay the sum of $50, 000 and that the other crew members pay $30, 000 each. And that other convicted sailors are ordered to pay the sum of N100, 000 as a fine option.
The sailors were prosecuted by the NDLEA prosecutors, who include Mrs Theresa Asuquo, A. Adebayo and Paul Awogbuyi while the convicts were represented by their team of lawyers, who include Babajide Koku, (SAN), Femi Atoyebi, (SAN) and Tunde Adejuyigbe, (SAN).
All 10 crew members are also to pay N100,000 each as restitution.
Justice Daniel Osiagor adopted the plea bargain as the judgment of the court after both the prosecution and defence confirmed that the terms were voluntarily agreed upon.
“This court has reviewed the terms and is satisfied that they were not obtained by coercion or deception,” the judge said.
“Accordingly, the plea bargain agreement is hereby accepted as the judgment of the court,” Osiagor held.
The court also ruled that upon payment of all fines and restitution, the convicted crew members would be released and allowed to return to their home country.
The convicts had initially pleaded not guilty, but on April 8, 2025, informed the court of ongoing plea bargain discussions with the NDLEA.
They formally changed their plea to guilty that same day.
However, the Nigerian labourers who were also aboard the vessel at the time of its interception were excluded from the plea bargain and remain on trial.
According to the NDLEA’s charge, the vessel and its crew and the Nigerian labourers on board were alleged to have imported the cocaine from Santos Port in Brazil to Lagos, Nigeria, on October 13, 2021, without lawful authority.
They were also accused of failing to take reasonable steps to prevent the vessel from being used to commit the offence.
The court, satisfied with the submissions, finalised the matter for the vessel and its crew. Meanwhile, the trial of the Nigerian workers continues.
The case was adjourned till July 25, 2025, for the trial of the Nigerian workers.
=== Punch ===
