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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have intercepted a Brazil-bound vessel, MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110), with 20 kilogrammes of cocaine at the Apapa seaport in Lagos.
The substance was discovered on Sunday, November 16, 2025, concealed under the ship’s cargo.
A statement released on Friday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said NDLEA subsequently detained the vessel’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 crew members, all Filipinos.
Babafemi said following the arrest, the NDLEA sought a court order to detain the vessel and crew for further investigation.
“The motion ex parte in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 was argued before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who on Thursday, 20th November 2025, granted the application for an initial 14-day detention of the vessel, Capt. Corpus and 19 other Filipino crew members, ” the statement added.
According to him, preliminary findings showed that the MV Nord Bosporus was visiting Nigeria and Africa for the first time.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that this was the first time the vessel was coming to Nigeria and Africa, as it’s been largely transporting coal between Colombia and Brazil, while Captain Corpus has been barely three months with the ship,” he said.
The latest interception comes six months after 10 Thai sailors aboard the MV Chayanee Naree were convicted for attempting to bring 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria through the same port.
The Federal High Court in Lagos had on May 15, 2025, fined the sailors and the vessel $4.3 million.
Speaking, the NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), commended the Apapa Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for the seizure.
He described the operation as further proof of the agency’s increased capacity and commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders.
Marwa added, “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. 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.”
He also cautioned Nigerians working with foreign drug syndicates, saying they would face severe legal consequences.
In June 2024, PUNCH Online reported that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency said it intercepted and seized 207,976 kilograms of hard drugs between January 2023 and March 2024 across different seaports in the country.
Giving details of the seizures, Babafemi said that in the first quarter of 2024, 14 suspects were arrested with 16.69kg of cocaine and 11,622.229kg of cannabis sativa.
“167 persons were arrested with 196,336.99kg of various types of drugs from January to October 2023,” he stated
