November 21, (THEWILL) — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has recorded another major breakthrough in its sustained offensive against transnational drug trafficking networks, intercepting a Brazil-origin vessel laden with 20 kilograms of cocaine at the Apapa seaport in Lagos.
The agency’s operatives uncovered the illicit consignment on Sunday, November 16, 2025, on board MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110), which had sailed from the port of Santos, Brazil.
A statement signed on Friday by the NDLEA Spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, stated that the cocaine was found expertly concealed beneath the vessel’s cargo. Following the discovery, NDLEA officers immediately took the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 other crew members — all Filipino nationals — into custody for investigation.
In a swift move to secure the scene and deepen its probe, the agency approached the Federal High Court in Lagos for legal backing. On Thursday, November 20, Justice Musa Kakaki granted an application in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25, authorising the initial 14-day detention of the vessel, its captain, and the entire crew.
Preliminary findings indicate that MV Nord Bosporus was visiting Nigeria — and indeed Africa — for the first time. Investigators also discovered that the ship had primarily been engaged in transporting coal between Colombia and Brazil, while Captain Corpus had only been assigned to the vessel about three months ago.
The latest interception comes barely six months after a Federal High Court convicted 10 Thai sailors involved in a similar trafficking attempt. The crew of the MV Chayanee Naree were sentenced on May 15, 2025, for bringing 32.9 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria through the same Apapa port in 2021. Justice Daniel Osiagor, who presided over the case, fined the convicts and the vessel a total of $4.3 million. Nine Nigerian accomplices were also arrested in connection with that incident.
The agency said investigations into the MV Nord Bosporus trafficking attempt are ongoing.
Reacting to the new seizure, NDLEA Chairman/Chief Executive, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd), praised the agency’s Apapa Strategic Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for what he described as exceptional vigilance and professionalism.
“This seizure is not merely an operational success; it is a clear demonstration of our heightened capacity and unwavering resolve. We will continue to tighten our grip on all entry and exit points, especially our seaports, which transnational criminal organisations have historically attempted to exploit”, Marwa stated.
Warning to international cartels and local collaborators, Marwa said, “Nigeria is not, and will never be, your space or your foothold. The NDLEA is operating with zero tolerance. 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 aiding foreign drug syndicates, stressing that such actions amount to betraying the nation.
“The consequences will be severe and unrelenting. We will dismantle your structures, seize your illicit assets, and ensure your long-term incarceration”, he warned.
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