The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted another cocaine shipment at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, marking a fresh breakthrough in Nigeria’s fight against international drug trafficking. The agency uncovered 20kg of cocaine hidden inside a vessel, MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110), which arrived from Santos Port in Brazil.
According to Mediaplusng.com, NDLEA operatives discovered the concealed drugs on Sunday, November 16, 2025. Following the discovery, the ship’s master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, and 19 Filipino crew members were arrested and taken into custody for investigation.
NDLEA immediately sought a court order to detain the vessel and crew members. In suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25, Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, granted an initial 14-day detention order on November 20, 2025, pending further investigations.
Preliminary findings shared with Mediaplusng.com indicate that this is the vessel’s first voyage to Nigeria or any African country. The ship previously transported coal between Brazil and Colombia, and Captain Corpus reportedly joined the vessel only three months ago.
This latest operation mirrors the 2021 arrest of 10 Thai sailors aboard MV Chayanee Naree, who were found with 32.9kg of cocaine at the same port. They were later convicted and fined $4.3 million in May 2025, along with nine Nigerian accomplices.
Reacting to the new seizure, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.) praised officers of the Apapa Strategic Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their vigilance and professionalism. He described the operation as proof of Nigeria’s intensified capacity to block drug trafficking routes.
Marwa warned international cartels that Nigeria will not serve as a transit point for drug syndicates.
“Nigeria is not—and will never be—your foothold,” he said.
He added that NDLEA will continue to strengthen intelligence, international partnerships, and border surveillance to stay ahead of drug traffickers.
He also cautioned Nigerians collaborating with foreign drug networks, stressing that such individuals are sabotaging their own nation.
“The consequences will be severe,” Marwa said. “We will dismantle your networks, seize your assets, and ensure long-term incarceration.”
