The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has detained 20 Filipino crew members after operatives discovered 20 kilogrammes of cocaine aboard MV Nord Bosporus at the Apapa seaport in Lagos. The vessel had sailed from Santos Port in Brazil.
According to the NDLEA, the illicit substance was uncovered on Sunday, 16 November 2025. The ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, along with 19 other crew members, was immediately taken into custody and arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos.
On Thursday, 20 November, Justice Musa Kakaki granted the agency an initial 14-day remand order for both the crew and the vessel to allow for further investigation.
Preliminary findings indicate that this was the vessel’s first voyage to Nigeria and the African continent. The ship had previously been used mainly to transport coal between Colombia and Brazil, while Captain Corpus assumed command only three months ago.
The NDLEA drew parallels with a 2021 case involving MV Chayanee Naree, in which 10 Thai sailors and nine Nigerians were convicted for smuggling 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil. The Federal High Court subsequently imposed fines totalling $4.3 million on those involved.
NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised officers of the Apapa Strategic Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for the successful interception.
“This seizure is not only another operational milestone but a clear demonstration of our enhanced capabilities and unwavering commitment,” he said.
Marwa warned both local and foreign drug syndicates that Nigeria remains a hostile environment for narcotics trafficking.
“Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or foothold. We operate a zero-tolerance policy. Anyone aiding foreign cartels is not only committing a crime but betraying the nation’s future,” he cautioned, vowing strict prosecution and aggressive asset forfeiture.
230 Suspects Arrested in Kano Anti-Drug Crackdown
In a related development, the NDLEA in Kano has arrested at least 230 suspects following a month-long operation targeting drug dealers and criminal networks across the state.
Commander of the Kano Strategic Command, Abubakar Idris Ahmad, told journalists on Friday that the raids were carried out in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, NSCDC, NIS, NCoS and DSS under the Kano State Joint Taskforce for Peace Restoration and Youth Rehabilitation.
He said the operation resulted in the seizure of significant quantities of illicit substances as well as weapons.
