NDLEA Intercepts Cocaine-Laden Vessel in Lagos Port, Detains 20 Filipino Crew Members

Barely six months after 10 Thai sailors and their ship were convicted and fined $4.3 million for importing 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have once again intercepted a vessel carrying illicit drugs. The ship, MV Nord Bosporus, marked 9760110, arrived from the port of Santos in Brazil and was seized at the Apapa seaport in Lagos with a concealed load of no less than 20 kilograms of cocaine hidden beneath its cargo.

The illegal drug shipment was discovered on Sunday, 16th November 2025, by NDLEA officers, after which the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 other crew members—all Filipinos—were taken into custody for investigation.

After the seizure and arrests, the Agency filed an application seeking a court order for the detention of both the vessel and the 20 Filipino crew members to allow further investigation. The ex-parte motion, filed as suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25, was presented before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos. On Thursday, 20th November 2025, the court granted the request, approving an initial 14-day detention for the vessel, Captain Corpus, and the other crew members.

Preliminary findings indicated that this was the vessel’s first visit to Nigeria and the African continent, as it had primarily been transporting coal between Colombia and Brazil. Captain Corpus had also been with the ship for only about three months.

In a similar case, the Agency had arrested 10 Thai sailors on 13th October 2021 for trafficking 32.9 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil to Nigeria aboard another vessel, MV Chayanee Naree. Nine Nigerian suspects were apprehended alongside the Thai crew. The Thai sailors and their vessel were eventually convicted on Thursday, 15th May 2025, by Justice Daniel Osiagor of the Federal High Court in Lagos, who also imposed a $4.3 million fine.

Reacting to the latest seizure of 20kg of cocaine aboard MV Nord Bosporus, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), commended the officers, men, and women of the Agency’s Apapa Strategic Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their vigilance, professionalism, and diligence.

Marwa described the operation as not only a significant success but “a clear demonstration of our heightened capacity and unwavering resolve,” emphasizing that the Agency would continue to strengthen security at all entry and exit points, especially the seaports frequently targeted by transnational criminal organisations.

He issued a strong warning to international drug cartels and their local collaborators, stating: “Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or your foothold. The NDLEA is operating with zero-tolerance, and we will not permit any illicit drug to pass through our borders, whether by air, land, or sea. You may scheme, you may attempt sophisticated concealment, but you will fail. Our intelligence network, collaboration with international partners, and the dedication of our officers are steps ahead of your nefarious activities.”

Marwa also cautioned Nigerians who choose to work with foreign drug syndicates. “You are not just committing a crime; you are betraying your nation’s future. The consequences of aiding and abetting drug trafficking will be severe and unrelenting. We are committed to using the full force of the law to dismantle your structures, seize your illicit assets, and secure your long-term incarceration,” he warned.