Lagos, Nigeria— The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, has expressed deep concern over the escalating incidents of drug and human trafficking, which are increasingly threatening the maritime sector. Speaking at a maritime security conference held in Lagos on Thursday, Oyetola highlighted the severe impact of these illicit activities on Nigeria’s social fabric, maritime security, and the welfare of seafarers.
The conference, organized by the Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) and the Alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria (AMANO), was themed “Drugs & Human Smuggling/Trafficking: The Evolving Maritime Security Threats to Ships and Seafarers.”
Represented by the Director of Marine Environment Management at the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Mr. Heaky Dimowo, Oyetola emphasized the growing risks posed by the maritime sector’s use as a transit route for illegal activities. “They pose a significant risk to the maritime security of seafarers and vessels. Today, we must confront the fact that our waters are increasingly viewed as a transit route to illicit activities,” he stated.
Oyetola called for a comprehensive strategy to address these evolving threats, urging the need for technological innovations, enhanced intelligence capabilities, and collaboration among key stakeholders. “Together, we can develop multifaceted responses that effectively combat these challenges,” the minister said.
During the conference, Mr. Suresh Prabhakar, Director of Operations at Pacific Basin Shipping Limited, Hong Kong, presented a paper urging the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to reconsider its approach when drugs are found on board ships. Prabhakar highlighted a troubling trend where shipowners and crew members, who often have no connection to the drug importation, suffer severe consequences.
Prabhakar recounted several incidents between February 2021 and July 2024, where four bulk carriers arriving in Lagos from Santos, Brazil, were found with significant quantities of cocaine on board, leading to prolonged detentions by the NDLEA. “Each of these ships was found to have significant quantities of cocaine on board, ranging from 18 to 43 kilogrammes, leading to prolonged detentions by the NDLEA,” he said.
He detailed the financial and emotional toll on the shipowners and crew, noting that delays of four to six months were common, with substantial bonds ranging from $2 million to $5 million required for release. Prabhakar added that the average bail for detained crew members was set at $40,000 per person, leading to further financial strain and prolonged psychological distress.
“The mental and physical scars such incidents leave on crew members and their families are immense. Careers are often destroyed, leaving many families in severe financial and emotional distress,” Prabhakar noted. He emphasized the need for the NDLEA to adopt more practical measures similar to those in the USA, Europe, and Brazil to prevent unnecessary delays and hardships for ships and crews.
MASPAN President Emmanuel Maiguwa also spoke on the issue, underscoring that drug smuggling and human trafficking are transnational crimes exploiting maritime transport for mobility. He cited records from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), which show that West Africa has become a transit region for narcotics, primarily originating from South America.
“With recent incidents involving merchant ships from South America to Nigeria rising to about four within the last two years, this maritime corridor proves to be providing mobility for this illicit activity,” Maiguwa said. He also pointed out the growing problem of human trafficking, with numerous stowaways discovered on ships calling at Nigerian ports.
Both MASPAN and AMANO reiterated their support for the fight against all forms of trafficking and smuggling, including drugs and humans, calling for intensified efforts to secure Nigeria’s maritime sector and protect those who work within it.