Picture courtesy of The Guardian Nigeria

 

In a dramatic court ruling yesterday, ten Thai sailors were convicted for trafficking 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria. Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos handed down the verdict, also condemning their ship, MV Chayanee Naree, which was used in the operation, to a hefty fine of $4 million, equating to approximately 148 million Thai Baht.

 

The sailors—Krilerk Tanakhan, Boonlert Hansoongnern, Jakkarin Booncharoen, Thammarong Put-tlek, Worrapat Paopinta, Marut Kantaprom, Werapat Somboonying, Urkit Amsri, Panudet Jaisuk, and Amrat Thawom—were apprehended in October 2021 at Apapa, Lagos.

 

Their vessel had sailed from Brazil, raising suspicions and resulting in their arrest by Nigerian authorities under charges of conspiracy, unlawful transportation, and unlawful importation of cocaine.

 

Arraigned alongside the seamen were nine Nigerians, who the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accused of collaboration in the illegal operation. However, their trial has been postponed, with the court setting the next hearing date for June 25.

 

Initially, the convicted sailors pleaded a no-case submission, asserting insufficient evidence from the prosecution.

 

This stance was overturned by Justice Osiagor, who highlighted the strength of the NDLEA's evidence, eventually leading the sailors to strike a plea bargain.

 

The ruling saw the vessel’s three captains, Krilerk Tanakhan, Boonlert Hansoongnern, and Jakkarin Booncharoen, slapped with personal fines of $50,000 each, equivalent to roughly 1.86 million Baht, while their subordinates were fined $30,000 each, or approximately 1.12 million Baht.

 

The prosecution, represented by Mrs Theresa Asuquo, A. Adebayo, and Paul Awogbuyi, argued convincingly against a highly capable defence team made up of Babajide Koku, Femi Atoyebi, and Tunde Adejuyigbe SAN.

 

In the wake of this judgment, the focus turns to the next legal proceedings on June 25 involving the Nigerian nationals linked to the crime.

 

This pivotal conviction underscores the international dimension of drug trafficking and the severe penalties awaiting those found guilty. 

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Guardian Nigeria 2025-05-17

 

 

32 kg's of cocaine and only fines, no prison sentences or am I missing something?

This report fails to say whether or not the Thai defendants have been held in custody since the initial arrest in 2021 nor does it say if the ship was also impounded and has been sitting in a Nigerian port since then.  That would be pretty costly for the owners.  Sitting in a Nigerian lock-up for 4 years awaiting trial not much of a holiday either.

Was it found in the actual ship or attached to the exterior ?

Odd they actually got prosecuted seeing as Lagos is one of the most corrupt places on earth .

7 hours ago, edwinchester said:

32 kg's of cocaine and only fines, no prison sentences or am I missing something?

Some more info here:

 

https://punchng.com/10-thai-sailors-vessel-convicted-for-trafficking-cocaine-fined-4m/

Weird, I thought Nigeria was where all kinds of rubbish including drugs came OUT of, not into!

There is always one Boonlert!

😂😂😂🚀

14 hours ago, edwinchester said:

32 kg's of cocaine and only fines, no prison sentences or am I missing something?

The end of the trial?

Ronnie Kray went to  Nigeria and on his last day arranged to go to visit the main prison in Lagos. His comment was " I feel sorry for those poor bastards locked up in there " !

1 hour ago, Magictoad said:

The end of the trial?

 

The linked article fron Punch newspaper says they are free to go after paying the "restitution". Sounds more like "tea money" to me. It will be intersting to hear of the verdicts on the Nigerian crew.

 

 

There is a lot more to the story than is given in the article. CHAYANEE NAREE is a Bulk Carrier and is sailing under the flag of Singapore. It is currently located in the Java Sea on its way to a port in Malaysia. The  vessel was not held for very long because it was  back to voyages in 2021.

 

Many people including the ships owners PCL are claiming that this was a staged bust.

 

STATEMENT issued by ship’s owner PCL:   At the load port in Santos Brazil, on 18 September 2021, drugs were found inside one of the cargo holds of the Vessel. Following this, the Brazilian authorities conducted a thorough investigation following which they were satisfied that none of our crew members were involved in or assisted the smuggling of drugs… … Upon arriving at the discharge berth in Lagos, Nigeria on 9 October 2021,the Nigerian authorities conducted an extensive search of the Vessel,however no suspicious objects were uncovered. The Vessel then commenced discharging the cargo. However, on 13 October 2021, drugs were found in a cargo hold of the Vessel… Full text: https://www.set.or.th/set/pdfnews.do?newsId=16342546926700&sequence=0

 

To those who mentioned the corruption of Nigeria and wondred about this. Your concern is  valid. Drug shipments are typically  in the hundreds or thousands of kilos, not a mere 32 kg.

 

The drug tipoff to Nigeria originated with the UK Border Services agency.

 

Curiouser and curiouser.

 

This hints as why there are so many Nigerians in Thailand.