NDLEA uncovers cocaine hidden under cargo on Brazil-bound ship, arrests  20 Filipinos

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA ) have uncovered 20 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed beneath cargo on a vessel headed for Brazil.

The ship, MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110), was intercepted at the Apapa port in Lagos on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

The discovery was made public on Friday in a statement released by the agency’s spokesperson, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed that the NDLEA had taken into custody the ship’s Master, Captain Quino Eugene Corpus, along with 19 Filipino crew members.

Babafemi noted that the agency had approached the court for authorization to keep the vessel and its crew in detention while investigations continue.

“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.

He further disclosed that early investigation indicated the MV Nord Bosporus was arriving in Nigeria—and indeed the African continent—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.

This seizure follows a similar incident six months earlier, when 10 Thai sailors aboard the MV Chayanee Naree were sentenced for attempting to traffic 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil through the same port. On May 15, 2025, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the sailors and their vessel to pay a $4.3 million fine.

Commending the latest operation, NDLEA Chairman, Brigadier General Buba Marwa (retd.), praised the Apapa Command and the Directorate of Seaport Operations for their efforts.

He described the seizure as further evidence of the agency’s strengthened operations and commitment to safeguarding the nation’s entry points.

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 warned Nigerians aiding foreign drug networks that they would face serious legal repercussions.