NDLEA Seizes Over 20kg Of Cocaine From Brazilian Ship, Detains 20 Filipino Crew In Lagos

According to Ireporter Online, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has intercepted over 20 kilograms of cocaine being shipped from Brazil and taken into custody 20 Filipino crew members at the Apapa seaport in Lagos.

NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi disclosed that the vessel, MV Nord Bosporus, arriving from Santos, Brazil, was inspected by agency officers on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The illegal narcotics were found concealed among the ship’s cargo. Captain Quino Eugene Corpus and 19 crew members were immediately detained for further investigations.

The NDLEA subsequently sought and obtained approval from the Federal High Court in Lagos to hold the vessel and its crew, with Justice Musa Kakaki granting an initial 14-day detention on Thursday, November 20, 2025, under suit number FHC/L/MISC/1306/25.

Investigations indicate that this was the vessel’s first visit to Nigeria and the African continent. Previously, the ship primarily transported coal between Colombia and Brazil, and Captain Corpus has only been with the vessel for three months.

This seizure follows a history of drug interdictions at Apapa seaport. In 2021, ten Thai sailors aboard MV Chayanee Naree were arrested for smuggling 32.9 kilograms of cocaine and later convicted, incurring fines totaling $4.3 million.

NDLEA Chairman Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd) commended the officers for their diligence, describing the seizure as a demonstration of the agency’s capability and resolve. He also issued stern warnings to drug traffickers and their local collaborators, emphasizing that Nigeria would not serve as a hub for illicit drugs. Marwa reiterated the agency’s zero-tolerance stance and cautioned that Nigerians who cooperate with foreign syndicates would face severe legal consequences.