Shipowners, importers lose millions of dollars to drug trafficking

The Maritime Security Providers Association of Nigeria (MASPAN) has highlighted the significant financial losses shipowners and importers incur due to the complex investigations surrounding drug trafficking and stowaway incidents in countries lacking an adequate legal framework for such cases.

MASPAN revealed that ships could be detained for several weeks or even months while authorities investigate the origin of drugs found onboard or the nationality of stowaways discovered in the vessel.

These prolonged investigations often lead to substantial losses in both time and money, which are typically borne by shipowners and passed on to importers. The association believes that these challenges are a contributory factor to why importers in West African countries, including Nigeria, continue to pay billions of dollars annually in war risk charges, despite the region being relatively peaceful with no incidents of piracy in the Gulf of Guinea in the last two years.

Additionally, MASPAN pointed out that seafarers are increasingly reluctant to work in countries without clear legal protocols for handling drug and stowaway discoveries, as these situations could result in severe consequences for them.

In response to these issues, MASPAN, in collaboration with the Alumni of the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron (AMANO), is organising a maritime summit to bring together shipping industry stakeholders and relevant drug regulatory agencies.

The summit will focus on Nigeria’s capacity to handle drug trafficking and stowaway investigations more efficiently. The maritime summit, themed “Drugs and Human Smuggling/Trafficking: The Evolving Maritime Security Threat to Ships and Seafarers,” is scheduled to take place on August 22 in Lagos.

The Chairman of the summit planning committee, Emmanuel Maiguwa, emphasised the need for a solution that allows for the swift resolution of such cases. He explained that in scenarios where drugs are discovered on a ship, regulatory agencies often detain the vessel for extended periods during the investigation, incurring significant costs for the shipowners.

“This situation discourages ships from conducting business in countries where they risk prolonged detainment. We aim to raise awareness within the industry and find a solution that enables these issues to be addressed quickly. We are studying practices in countries where such matters are resolved within 24 hours,” Maiguwa said.

He said the summit would be chaired by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has tasked to chart the course for the newly established ministry.