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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted 20 kilograms of cocaine hidden on the Brazil-bound vessel MV Nord Bosporus at Lagos’ Apapa seaport.
Following the seizure, the ship’s master and 19 Filipino crew members were detained under a court order obtained by the agency.
Officers discovered the narcotics on Sunday, November 16, 2025, after the vessel arrived from Santos, Brazil.
The ship’s captain, Quino Eugene Corpus, and the 19 crew members were taken into custody pending further investigation.
Subsequently, the NDLEA filed an ex parte motion before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
In suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25, the court approved an initial 14-day detention order for the vessel, captain, and crew on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
Investigators noted that MV Nord Bosporus was making its first visit to Nigeria and Africa, having primarily transported coal between Colombia and Brazil.
Captain Corpus had served on the vessel for only three months before the arrest.
Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive, reiterated the agency’s uncompromising stance against drug trafficking.
He also warned Nigerians who aid foreign syndicates that the consequences of involvement would be severe.
“You are not just committing a crime; you are betraying your nation’s future. Those who facilitate drug trafficking will face the full force of the law, including asset seizure and long-term incarceration,” he stated.
The seizure comes months after a landmark case in May 2025, when a Lagos Federal High Court, led by Justice Daniel Osiagor, convicted 10 Thai sailors and their vessel, MV Chayanee Naree, for smuggling 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through Apapa.
The case, prosecuted by the NDLEA over three years, resulted in hefty fines for the vessel and crew members after a plea bargain.
