The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted a vessel arriving from Brazil with 20 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed beneath its cargo at the Apapa seaport in Lagos. The vessel, MV Nord Bosporus (IMO 9760110), sailed from the port of Santos before being flagged by operatives on Sunday, November 16, 2025.
According to the NDLEA, the ship’s captain, Quino Eugene Corpus, and all 19 crew members—who are Filipino nationals—were immediately taken into custody for investigation following the discovery.
The agency subsequently filed for a detention order, and on Thursday, November 20, 2025, Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos granted approval for the vessel and crew to be held for an initial 14 days.
Preliminary findings show that this was the first time the vessel had docked in Nigeria, after previously operating mainly between Colombia and Brazil transporting coal. Captain Corpus reportedly joined the crew only three months ago.
The NDLEA noted that the interception comes six months after 10 Thai sailors were convicted and fined $4.3 million for smuggling 32.9 kilogrammes of cocaine from Brazil into Nigeria aboard MV Chayanee Naree in 2021.
Reacting to the latest seizure, NDLEA Chairman/CEO Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended officers involved in the operation, describing the haul as a demonstration of the agency’s strengthened capacity and commitment to securing Nigeria’s borders.
He warned international drug syndicates that Nigeria “is not and will never be your space or your foothold,” stressing that the NDLEA will continue to intensify scrutiny across all entry points.
Marwa also cautioned Nigerians collaborating with foreign drug cartels, saying such actions amount to betraying the nation and will attract severe legal consequences.
