The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has brought charges against the vessel MV Cooper Island, its owner, and 10 crew members before the Federal High Court in Lagos for the alleged illegal importation of 24 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.
Those arraigned alongside the vessel were: Krasnoperov Oleksii, Enesa Julio (Jnr) Pedrogosa, Nonan Ulysses Doria, Torino Jhundhel Adang, Alado Elpe De Pedro, Empedrado Ryan De Jesus, Liquit Niel Morris Auxtero, Akulov Oleg, Frugalidad Francis Cabaluna and Duran Niel Stephen Dias, who are said to be Ukrainians and Estonians.
The prosecutor, Mrs. Josephine Obi, informed the court that the defendants were accused of conspiring to unlawfully transport the prohibited narcotic drug from the Port of Santos, State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The charges brought against them are said to contravene sections 14 (b) and 20 (1)(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Act Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, the defense lawyers requested the court to allow the defendants to maintain the bail terms granted by Justice Nicholas Oweibo during the court’s annual long vacation.
The bail conditions required each defendant to deposit $40,000 into an ‘escrow account’, a condition confirmed to have been fulfilled by the prosecutor.
Justice Ayotunde Faji granted the request and adjourned the trial to January 17, 2024.
The legal proceedings will continue as the court addresses the allegations against the vessel, its owner, and the crew members in connection with the illicit importation of cocaine.