Barely six months after 10 Thai sailors and their ship were found guilty and penalised $4.3 million for importing 32.9kg of cocaine into Nigeria, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have once again intercepted another cargo-bearing vessel — MV Nord Bosporus with registration 9760110 — which arrived from the port of Santos in Brazil at the Apapa seaport in Lagos, carrying no less than 20 kilograms of the Class A substance concealed beneath its goods.
The illegal drug shipment was uncovered on board the vessel on Sunday, 16th November 2025, by NDLEA officers, who subsequently detained the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, along with 19 other crew members, all of whom are Filipinos, for questioning.
After the confiscation and arrest of the crew, the Agency submitted an application seeking a court order to hold the vessel and the 20 Filipino crew members for continued investigation. The ex-parte motion in suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25 was presented before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, who on Thursday, 20th November 2025, approved the request, authorising an initial 14-day detention of the vessel, Captain Corpus, and the 19 Filipino crew members.
Initial findings showed that this was the vessel’s maiden voyage to Nigeria and the African continent, as it had mostly been transporting coal between Colombia and Brazil, while Captain Corpus had spent only about three months on the ship.
In a similar situation, the Agency had arrested 10 Thai sailors on 13th October 2021 aboard a ship named MV Chayanee Naree, for smuggling 32.9 kilograms of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria through the Apapa seaport. Nine Nigerian suspects were also apprehended alongside the Thai crew. The 10 Thai sailors and the vessel were ultimately convicted on Thursday, 15th May 2025, by a Federal High Court in Lagos led by Justice Daniel Osiagor, who imposed a fine of $4.3 million.
In his reaction to the latest significant seizure of 20kg cocaine on board MV Nord Bosporus, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers, men and women of the Apapa Strategic Command of the Agency as well as the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their vigilance, diligence and professionalism.
​Marwa said the cocaine seizure is not just an operational success but “a clear demonstration of our heightened capacity and unwavering resolve”, adding that “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.”
"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.”
“You are not just committing a crime; you are betraying your 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”, he warned.
