By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

Indications has emerged on why Nigeria should adopt practical measures to aviod prolong delay of ships and crews when drugs are found on board visiting vessels.

This is because the consequences of the same are very dire for ships’ crew, their families and ship owners.

Speaking at a one day seminar with theme: Drug & Human Smuggling/Trafficking: The Evolving Maritime Security Threats To Ships and Seafarers”, organised by Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria, MASPAN/ Alumni of Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron, AMANO 2024 Conference, Director, Operations, Pacific Basin Shipping Limited, Hong Kong, Mr. Suresh Prabhakar, advised Nigeria to take a cue from local authorities such as USA, Canada, among others measure in handling drug related incidents.

He said that when drugs are found on board ships in ports in USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and several other countries, the drug enforcement agencies quickly investigate and conclude whether a ship and her crew are involved.

Prabhakar said that the NDLEA should consider reviewing its stance when drugs are found on board ships, bearing in mind the increased risks of drug smuggling on board ships by drug cartels and the security challenges faced by ships’ crew and owners.

He said: “Invariably the crew are found innocent and the vessel and crew are allowed to sail without delay. On the rare occasion that the authorities strongly suspect that a particular crew member may be involved, they land that individual and allow the ship and her remaining crew to sail without delay.

“The same practice happens in Brazilian ports when the federal police and associated agencies find drugs on board ships. This is particularly important to note as today the maximum quantity of drugs being smuggled on board ships is from Brazilian ports. When I visited Santos, Brazil in February 2024 to meet with several regulatory authorities on the topic of drug smuggling, their rationale behind this approach was clearly explained.”

Earlier, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, said that there is a need to confront the fact that the Nigerian waters are increasingly viewed as a transit route to illicit activities.

Oyetola, who was represented by Director, Marine Environment Management, Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA, Heaky Dimowo, said it was essential that “we develop comprehensive strategies to address these evolving threats by leveraging technological innovations, enhancing our intelligence capabilities and fostering collaboration among critical stakeholders.

“Together, we can develop multifaceted responses that effectively combat these challenges.

“Recent trends indicate a troubling increase in Maritime threats, particularly those related to drugs and human trafficking.

“Our diversity is our strength, and our objective unity is crucial in combating these trans- national crimes.

“These activities are not merely criminal acts; they erode our social fabric, destabilize communities and challenge our law enforcement at sea. Moreover, they pose significant risk to the Maritime and Security of seafarers and vessels.

“I urge us to consider the crucial role of training and capacity building in our quest to improve Maritime security. We must ensure that the knowledge acquired is harnessed and integrated into our national strategies that advocate for policies, promote sustainable practices and prioritize the training of our personnel in Maritime Law enforcement and security measures.

“It is time to align our interest and resources towards a common goal, safe and secure Maritime domain for all Nigeria seafarers and vessels. Together we can create a safer and more prosperous Maritime environment that will foster growth and promote a sustainable blue economy”, he said.

In his welcome address, President of MASPAN/AMANO, Emmanuel Maiguwa, said that MASPAN and AMANO express strong support for the fight against all forms of trafficking and smuggling, including drugs and humans.
He added that they are mainly focused on addressing responses to these crimes as they occur within the maritime corridor.

Maiguwa said: “We aim to ensure that perpetrators of these crimes are apprehended and fully punished of the law without subjecting the innocent to unnecessary difficulties that are counterproductive to the growth of shipping.

“It is essential to remind ourselves that when the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, Shipping was identified as one of the critical sectors to be allowed to operate on the realisation that this industry was required to navigate the world out of the difficult situation it finds itself.

“While shipping was offering itself for service, unfortunately, the Organized Crime, OC world saw it as the only means to transport illicit cargo when every other transport sector was shut down.

“As a result, the OCs developed and improved tactics that enabled them to place large amounts of drugs on ships without the crew’s knowledge, especially in areas where ISPS appeared weak.”