The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a major shipment of cocaine at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, Nigeria. On Sunday, November 16, 2025, NDLEA operatives discovered approximately 20 kilograms of cocaine hidden beneath cargo aboard the MV Nord Bosporus, a vessel with registration number 9760110, which had arrived from the port of Santos, Brazil.
Following the discovery, the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and all 19 crew members—reported to be Filipino nationals—were taken into custody for further investigation. The agency promptly sought a court order to detain both the vessel and its crew. On Thursday, November 20, 2025, Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, granted an initial 14-day detention order under suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 to enable the agency to continue its investigations.
Preliminary findings indicate that this was the MV Nord Bosporus’ first journey to Nigeria or any African port. The vessel had previously been engaged in coal transport between Colombia and Brazil. Captain Corpus had only recently joined the ship’s crew, having served for just three months before the vessel’s interception in Lagos.
This interception comes barely six months after a similar bust involving 10 Thai sailors aboard the MV Chayanee Naree in October 2021. The crew was convicted and fined $4.3 million by a Federal High Court in Lagos on May 15, 2025, for trafficking 32.9 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria. Nine Nigerian nationals were also arrested in connection with that case.
Reacting to the latest seizure, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired), applauded the officers and staff of the Apapa Strategic Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their vigilance and professionalism. Marwa said the operation is a testament to the agency’s increasing capabilities and commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s borders.
“Let this be an unambiguous message to every international drug cartel and every internal collaborator: Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or your foothold,” Marwa declared. “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.”
The NDLEA chief also issued a stern warning to Nigerians collaborating with foreign syndicates, emphasizing that such actions not only constitute criminal offenses but also betray the 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,” Marwa warned.
With this latest interception, the NDLEA continues to demonstrate its resolve in combating international drug trafficking and ensuring Nigeria’s ports do not become entry points for illicit substances. The agency has reaffirmed its commitment to vigilance, intelligence gathering, and collaboration with global partners in the ongoing fight against drug cartels.
Reported by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.
